LeBron James: Contract doesn’t worry him, focused on Lakers and NBA championship

The basketball star, LeBron James, marked a couple of milestones when stepping onto the court during the media day of the Los Angeles Lakers. Wearing his iconic gold jersey with the number 23, James is preparing for a season full of expectations and challenges. This season, James will become the only player in NBA history to play 23 seasons, surpassing Vince Carter. In addition, for the first time in his eight years with the Lakers, James faces the season with an expiring contract.

No Contractual Pressure

Despite these unique circumstances, James, a 21-time All-Star, assures that his contractual situation will not affect his performance. “It will have no impact,” James stated. “I am very excited about the challenges and the excitement of our team.” The player highlighted the incorporation of new teammates and the benefit of having another year of experience with the coaching staff. “I’m not worried about contracts at this point in my career. I am honored to continue playing this sport that I love and to make the most of it.” In June, James exercised his player option for $52.6 million for this season. His agent, Rich Paul, stated that James “wants to compete for a championship” and that “he knows the Lakers are building for the future”.

We understand the difficulty of winning now as we prepare for the future. We want to assess what is best for LeBron at this stage of his life and career.

Rich Paul

Last season, the Lakers were the third seed in the Western Conference and fell in the first round of the playoffs to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Focus on Details

When asked about what would constitute a successful season for the Lakers, James emphasized the importance of attention to detail. “We have to be detail-oriented in everything, both on offense and defense. We must hold each other accountable and play championship basketball every day.” James, who suffered a knee sprain in the elimination game against Minnesota, is focusing on preparing his body for a full season. “The challenge is always how I can get my body close to 100 percent,” he said. With the start of training camp, James hinted that he might have limitations on his participation. “I want to be on the court as much as possible… but we know where I am and the coaching staff knows where I am in terms of getting to a place where we’re all good in terms of getting on the court.” James also made it clear that his decision to retire will not depend on his son Bryce making it to the league. “I’m not waiting for Bryce,” he said. “He has his own schedule. I have my schedule and I don’t know if they coincide.” Additionally, James noted that he will evaluate his mental approach and how his body responds to the demands of competition when considering his future in basketball. “I think that once I fall out of love with the process, then I will know for sure. Then, it will probably be the end for me,” James concluded.