LeBron James announces return for 21st NBA season
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NBA superstar LeBron James announces during the ESPY Awards that he will be returning for his 21st NBA season.
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LeBron James accepts the award for best record-breaking performance at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 12 in Los Angeles. (AP)
Following a postseason defeat in May, NBA superstar LeBron James hinted at retirement, but he has confirmed he would return for another year of play - his 21st NBA season.
James divulged his plans on Wednesday while onstage at the ESPY Awards, sending the crowd in waves of cheers.
“I don’t care how many more points I score or what I can or can’t do on the floor,” he stated, adding that “The real question for me is: Can I play without cheating this game? The day that I can’t give the game everything on the floor is the day I’ll be done. Lucky for you guys, the day is not today.”
During last season's Western Conference Finals, the all-star hinted at retiring to reporters, after the Lakers lost to the Denver Nuggets.
James has stated several times that he hopes to play in the NBA one day alongside his oldest son, Bronny James, who has committed to playing collegiate basketball at the University of Southern California. In 2024, the year his father turns 40, James will be able to enter the NBA Draft.
James expressed that what brings him back is "Watching and coaching my boys and their teammates," adding that it brings him "back to where I need to be just the pure love of this beautiful game. So yeah, I still got something left. A lot left."
James was awarded the ESPY Award for the Best Record-Breaking Performance after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar became the NBA scoring leader in the last season.
