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LeBron James on NBA future: ‘I feel I got a lot more in the tank to give’

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James Foglio
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James Foglio Sports Editor

James is a Basketball Insiders contributor. He earned his bachelor's degree in English and Creative Writing from Southern New Hampshire University. James enjoys watching sports and helping gamblers win money.

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Sports Editor

Updated03 Oct 2023

Los Angeles Lakers LeBron James on NBA future I feel I got a lot more in the tank to give

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James announced he would return for his 21st NBA season at the 2023 ESPYS. The 19-time All-Star won the award for Best Record-Breaking Performance for breaking Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time scoring record last season.

“I don’t care how many more points I score or what I can or cannot do on the floor,” James said after accepting the award. “The real question for me is: Can I play without cheating this game? The day I can’t give everything on the floor is the day I’ll be done. Lucky for you guys, that day is not today.”

According to a few NBA betting sites, the Los Angeles Lakers hold sixth-shortest odds to win next season’s championship in 2024. Check out which sportsbooks are showing better odds for the Denver Nuggets and Phoenix Suns.


During NBA Media Day on Monday, the four-time MVP doubled down on his initial statements. “I feel like I got a lot more in the tank to give,” James told reporters. “I think it all starts with the mind, obviously.

“You know, the mind controls everything. I think being able to keep my mind fresh, so just … allows my body to kind of follow after that. Then able to continue to step into the gym and continue to prepare myself for another season. I felt like I had a heck of a summer.’’

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James feels he can still play at a high level, emphasizes the importance of keeping the mind fresh

Besides his love for basketball, James decided to return because of the Lakers’ offseason moves.

“To be honest, if I want to keep it all the way real, the job that Coach [Darvin] Ham and Rob [Pelinka] did with acquisitions that we got coming in, that kind of inspired me too,” James said. “I feel like we got a really good team. They did a great job this summer being able to re-sign some of the guys we already had here with the camaraderie.’’

Furthermore, the Lakers star has to be thinking about setting more NBA records. James is the league’s all-time scorer with 38,652 points. The 20-year veteran is 1,348 points shy of reaching 40,000 career points.


Plus, James is set to become the sixth player in NBA history to play in his 21st season or beyond — joining Robert Parish, Kevin Willis, Kevin Garnett, Dirk Nowitzki, and Vince Carter, who has the all-time record with 22. If he plays into his 40s, Carter’s record will fall.

James could also become the first player in NBA history to receive a 20th All-Star selection and become a 20-time All-NBA member next season. The Lakers star is tied with NBA Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most All-Star selections, with a total of 19.

Last season, LeBron James made 55 appearances with L.A. The six-time All-Defensive member averaged 28.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, 6.8 assists, and 35.5 minutes per game while shooting 50% from the field and 32.1% beyond the arc.

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