LeBron James took the opportunity to set the record straight about his future with the Los Angeles Lakers during All-Star Weekend.
“This is a franchise I see myself being with. I’m here. I’m here,” James told reporters after the Lakers lost to the Clippers, 105-102, on Friday. “I see myself being with the purple and gold as long as I can play.”
LeBron James clears air about Lakers tensions, his NBA future https://t.co/AfFuklLT2t pic.twitter.com/aLHlOWMRIi
— New York Post (@nypost) February 26, 2022
James, who has one season left on his contract with the Lakers, made headlines last week after saying that he is open to returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“The door’s not closed on that,” James told The Athletic. “I’m not saying I’m coming back and playing, I don’t know. I don’t know what my future holds. I don’t even know when I’m free.”
The NBA superstar also expressed his desire to play with his eldest son, Bronny, who will be eligible for drafting in 2024.
“I also have a goal that, if it’s possible — I don’t even know if it’s possible — that if I can play with my son, I would love to do that,” James said. “Is that, like, something any man shouldn’t want to do in life? That’s like the coolest thing that could possibly happen. That doesn’t mean I don’t want to be with this franchise.”
Additionally, James wanted to clear up rumors that he was upset with GM Rob Pelinka, who stood pat at the trade deadline to improve the team. He later praised Thunder GM Sam Presti and LA Rams GM Les Snead in what some interpreted as a shot at Pelinka.
“If I comment [on] or compliment the GM that’s in OKC — I really believe he’s doing a phenomenal job,” James said. “And you guys spin that to me saying Rob is not doing a great job. And if I say the GM from the Rams: I loved his f—ing t-shirt. I thought it was dope. And I believe the same way.
“I don’t care about picks; I care about winning championships. Well, how is that directed at Rob and the Lakers franchises? Rob has done the same thing. He went and got [Anthony Davis]. He didn’t care about picks as well, obviously.”
