LeBron James signed a two-year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason, and it’s shaping up to be a milestone moment in his career. With this in mind, speculation has already begun about whether LeBron will retire once his contract ends since his career goals have been fulfilled.
James’ former Cleveland Cavaliers teammate, Iman Shumpert, recently shared his thoughts on the matter. In a one-on-one interview with RG.org, Shumpert was asked how many more years he believes LeBron will play. Shumpert confidently said, “I’d say three. I’ll say this—he’s capable of three.”
James, who has long dreamed of playing alongside his son Bronny, will finally see that dream come true this season after Bronny’s draft with the Lakers. Shumpert went on to explain that after the Lakers star plays two seasons with Bronny, he might decide to retire. However, Shumpert also noted that if Bronny has an outstanding first year in the NBA, LeBron might consider retiring sooner.
“I want to say after Year 2 with his son [Bronny], I want to say he puts it down. If he gives us one more after that, cool. I think he’s going to let Bronny get through Years 1 and 2, and then it’s like, ‘Yeah, he’s got it,’” Shumpert said.
“If Bronny comes out here and just kills in his first year and just goes crazy? I think ‘Bron would put it down after this year,” he added.
LeBron James Reflects on Bronny’s Journey After His Lakers Debut
LeBron James sat out the Los Angeles Lakers’ first preseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. But it was a special night for him as his son, Bronny James, debuted.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NBA stories via Google! Follow Us
This moment was significant for LeBron, especially after Bronny’s health scare during his time at USC, when he suffered a cardiac arrest. After the team’s practice on Saturday, LeBron shared his thoughts on seeing Bronny in action.
“Every rank that you climb is always an adjustment to get used to it. So when he went from middle school to high school to USC and now to the pros, it’s always an adjustment he makes. So with more and more time he’s on the floor with pros—the speed, the cadence, and all those things, you get better and better,” LeBron said.
“And you’ve got to (say) that he lost pretty much almost a third of a season last year because of the condition, but he’s got better and better every day. He’s continued to put the work in,” he added.
Bronny’s debut was a quiet one, as he contributed two points, a rebound, and an assist in his first game. Despite the modest start, Lakers fans and LeBron remain hopeful as Bronny continues to adjust to the professional level. The Lakers will face the Phoenix Suns in their next preseason game on October 6.
