As LeBron James moves deeper into the twilight of his NBA career, the conversations around what his final years should look like are becoming more intentional.
Those talks have already happened, and the focus goes far beyond box scores or championships, according to longtime agent Rich Paul.
Paul recently opened up about discussions he has had with James regarding how to approach the remainder of his time in the league, emphasizing the importance of legacy, mentorship, and impact inside the locker room.
“I think that in LeBron’s case, however many more years he has to play, and we have had this conversation, I think it’s always important for when the game has given you so much, I think it’s so important for you to spend these years creating moments and memories for young players in your locker room, sharing that locker room with you,” Paul said.
“Give them everything. Give them everything you have because you don’t know how much longer you gonna be in those locker rooms. You’re not going to get that back, which is why I felt like when I went to the [San Antonio] Spurs facility and their legacy players had lockers, that means a lot. That is a culture thing. That’s a building block type of thing, foundational thing.”
James, now in his 23rd NBA season, has already accomplished nearly everything possible.
He is the league’s all-time leading scorer, a four-time champion, and a player who has reached the NBA Finals ten times across three franchises.
At 41 years old, James remains productive while navigating a new dynamic alongside Luka Doncic in Los Angeles.
Though the Lakers now feature a younger superstar who may be the focal point of the franchise moving forward, James continues to perform at a high level, averaging 21.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game while shooting 51.2 percent from the field.
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