NEW YORK — LeBron James isn’t sure when he’ll retire — but he knows it’s close.
After scoring 40 points and tying his career high with nine 3-pointers in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 116-104 win over the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on Sunday, James was asked how long he plans to continue playing in NBA.
“Not too long,” said James. “Not too long. I’m on the other side, obviously, of the hill. I’m not gonna play another 21 years, that’s for damn sure. But not too long. I don’t know when that door will close when I retire. But I don’t have much time left.”
LeBron James on how long he expects to continue playing in the NBA: “Not very long. … I’m not going to play another 21 years, that’s for sure. But not too long. I don’t know when that door will close when I retire. But I don’t have much time.” pic.twitter.com/OtJzM6cheI
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Less than 30 minutes earlier, the 39-year-old James drew a standing ovation from the pro-Lakers road crowd after putting on a show in the fourth quarter with 17 points and making all four of his 3-point attempts. .
Brooklyn cut Los Angeles’ lead to just eight points, 90-82, with 11:42 left in the game. James responded by making consecutive 3s, and four total in a five-minute span, to extend the Lakers’ lead to 18 points midway through the fourth.
“It’s unbelievable,” coach Darvin Ham said. “I told him in the huddle before his last little stretch and we finally let him out. Just thankful he packed a cape on the road trip. Needed all nine of those 3s.”
In his 21st season, James inexplicably shot a career-best 41.6 percent on 3s — one percentage point higher than his previous career-high mark (40.6 percent in 2012-13 with the Miami Heat) . James credits the career year to being healthier — though he’s technically battling left ankle peroneal tendinopathy — and getting more practice time and shooting reps on days off.
“My foot feels much better,” said James. “I didn’t have a lot of time to really respond last year because I had to make sure I was on the floor running around or (not) putting too much pressure on my foot on the floor. I’ve had a lot of opportunities to be on the floor. … And just trying to stay consistent with my shot, make the same shot every time. And just work. Just work work work.”
Anthony Davis, in his fifth season with James, said he’s never seen better shooting than he did against the Nets when considering efficiency (90 percent of his 3s), volume (career- high-tying nine makes) and difficulty ( James hit some off-balanced, heavily contested shots).
“It’s still surprising,” Davis said of James. “Like I said, the way he was shooting them, the runout in the left corner on their side of the floor, I mean, he was one-tworing there, he jumped, he was fading. I mean, he was doing everything tonight from the 3-point line. … It’s great to just sit here and watch that. He separated us.”
As for his future with the Lakers and the NBA, James has a $51.4 million player option for next season. He has five realistic options to weigh this summer:
- Opt into his contract for next season with the Lakers.
- Opt in and extend with the Lakers for up to three years and $164 million.
- Opt out and re-sign with the Lakers for up to three years, $162 million.
- Opt out and sign with another team for up to three years, $157.5 million.
- Retire.
Both James and the Lakers would prefer him to retire as a Laker, according to team and league sources.
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(Photo: Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
