LeBron James is 31 and has played more minutes for his age than anyone else in the history of the league has ever played. Even though he may not quite be as dominant as he was during his true peak, he is still phenomenal and looks like he could continue to play effectively for several more years.
So just how long does James want to keep playing? He says that is up to his kids.
“It’s kind of up to my kids, really,” James said Thursday via the AP. “I’ve missed so much of my kids’ tournaments and things of that nature when I’m playing. So, it’s kind of up to them. They’ll let me know when they’re tired of seeing me go away.”
LeBron has three children: 11-year-old LeBron Jr., 8-year-old Bryce, and 19-month-old daughter Zhuri. The tournaments James referenced are through his sons, who both play basketball.
James saying his kids will decide when he retires seems a little like a cop-out. Who actually thinks James isn’t going to be the one to decide when he’s done hooping? That seems like too big of a decision for James to leave to someone else.
My guess is James’ retirement decision will come down to several factors, such as his effectiveness, physical condition, and desire to keep playing. We probably won’t have to seriously worry about this matter for at least a few years.
