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LeBron James has been playing in the NBA for nearly 20 years. Even though he’s past his prime, ‘King James’ is still a formidable opponent on the court. The 38-year-old played a crucial role in leading the Los Angeles Lakers team to victory in the NBA Western Conference Semifinals.

However, when the Lakers eventually lost in the playoffs, then ‘L-Train’ was immensely disappointed. He even hinted at ambiguous clues pointing to his potential retirement. Most recently, a long-time friend of the Lakers’ legend opened up about LeBron’s retirement.

LeBron James’ close friend discusses the NBA legend’s retirement plan

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Despite their best attempts, LeBron & Co hit a wall in the NBA playoffs. After failing to get past the Denver Nuggets, James’ frustration was clearly evident in the post-game interview, where he hinted at retirement after throwing phrases like “We’ll see what happens going forward” and “A lot to think about.”  

Most recently, Rich Paul, his long-time friend and agent, revealed what went through LeBron’s mind when they lost.

USA Today via Reuters

The founder of the sports agency, Klutch Sports Group, also revealed how James’ fitness plays a key role, which could help him play well into his 40s. However, the Lakers were nowhere near the eventual champions, which could be a cause for concern.

Read More: “We’re Losing Time”: Aging LeBron James Gets NBA Fans Emotional as Sports World Comes to a Harsh Realization

“For someone who’s always playing for championships… [the result] obviously wasn’t good enough,” Paul claimed, which could have led to James hinting at his potential retirement.

Yet, a couple of days after hinting at retirement, James called up Paul with the latter claiming that he was motivated to get back in the game. After having spent 20 seasons in the league, the sports agent was left impressed with LeBron still competing in the league.

Furthermore, how can he retire without playing alongside his son on the floor?

James changes his stance on wanting to play with his son, Bronny James

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LeBron James has strongly expressed a strong desire to play alongside his son, Bronny, in the NBA. Whether it is playing on the same team or as an opponent, that’s one reason that has kept him going.

However, while hinting at his retirement, he also acknowledged that Bronny’s aspirations might not be the same as his. However, he will support his son on whatever path he decides to embark on.

As it stands, NBA fans can rest assured as he is most likely coming back for another season. But how long can ‘The Chosen One’ lace his shoes for another grueling season? Only time will tell.

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