It appears that LeBron James’ retirement from the NBA may be further down the line than anticipated. A recent advertisement by Beats By Dre hinted that the 38-year-old Lakers player may continue playing for at least three more seasons. The ad features LeBron and Manchester City’s Erling Haaland receiving motivational speeches from narrators Savannah (LeBron’s wife) and Alfie (Haaland’s father). The video’s underlying message is that while Haaland is just starting his career, LeBron still has much to offer. In one poignant moment, Savannah encourages her husband to play with both of their sons in the NBA before retiring, highlighting that LeBron is far from done with basketball.
According to reports, Bronny and Bryce James, the sons of LeBron James, are expected to join the NBA in the years 2024 and 2026 respectively.
LeBron James, who is currently 38 years old, has expressed his intention to continue playing in the NBA alongside his sons Bronny (19) and Bryce (16). While Bronny will be joining the USC Trojans this year and will be eligible for the NBA draft in 2024, Bryce is expected to graduate from high school in 2025. However, under the current NBA regulations, Bryce will not be able to join the league until 2026, which coincides with LeBron’s 42nd birthday.
Despite recent concerns about his potential retirement following the Lakers’ exit in the 2023 Western Conference Finals, LeBron has made it clear that he intends to return for his 21st season and fifth with the Lakers. His desire to play with his sons at a high level in his forties could serve as the perfect conclusion to his illustrious career, which includes being a four-time NBA Champion, Finals MVP, regular season MVP, and holding the all-time scoring record in the league.
In an interview with Sports Illustrated in 2022, LeBron confirmed his plans to continue playing for a while, emphasizing that it all depends on his body and state of mind. He believes that if his mind remains sharp, fresh, and motivated, he can surpass the sky’s limit. However, only time will tell whether or not he can achieve this feat.
On a personal note, Bronny suffered cardiac arrest in July, but LeBron recently announced that he underwent successful surgery and is doing extremely well.