With the Los Angeles Lakers' loss in the first round of the playoffs, many fans and pundits are beginning to look forward to the future of the team. Despite the disappointing loss, the performance of LeBron James, the core player of the Lakers, was eye-catching. The 39-year-old has once again proved his dominance, saving his team from danger on a number of occasions in the tournament and showing incredible athletic form.
James' performance in the G5 battle was even more breathtaking, as he played a whopping 44 minutes, making him the longest-running player on the team. He delivered a luxury quasi-triple-double of 30 points, 9 rebounds and 11 assists, ranking first on the team in scoring and assists. Such a performance begs the question, does the veteran have more energy and potential to be tapped?
According to a new report from NBA Hall of Famer Shams, a source with knowledge of James' thoughts revealed that James is expected to play two more NBA seasons. That means he will continue to wear the Lakers jersey for the 2024-25 season and turn 41 at the 2026 All-Star Weekend. Such news is undoubtedly a huge boon for fans of the Lakers and James.
For the Lakers, they would love to see James stay with the team. According to team sources, the Lakers are willing to accept James' return in any way. There is even news that the Lakers are willing to offer James a three-year, $164 million contract extension with a maximum salary. Such a contract is undoubtedly a recognition of James' strength and value, and it also shows the Lakers' ambitions for the future.
And in addition to renewing James' contract, the Lakers also have an exciting plan to help James realize his desire to be on the same stage as father and son. According to sources, the Lakers are more than willing to make that happen by selecting Bronny outright. Such a move would not only allow James and his son to play on the same team, but also add more potential and talent to the Lakers.
In this year's draft, the Lakers had the 17th pick in the first round (with the Pelicans having the right to swap first) and the overall 55th pick in the second round. Although they can't guarantee a direct selection of Bronny, they will certainly try their best to get this opportunity. After all, for the Lakers, having James and Bronny, a father-son pair, is undoubtedly a huge attraction, and while gaining huge attention, it may also create an unexpected classic case.
Of course, there are still some difficulties and challenges to be overcome in order to realize this aspiration. First, Bronny would have to perform well in the draft to get the Lakers' attention. Second, even if the Lakers draft Bronny, he will need to put in the effort and time to adapt to the pace and intensity of the NBA game. Finally, it's also unknown whether James and Bronny will be able to create chemistry on the court.
Despite this, both the Lakers and James are full of anticipation and confidence in this wish. They believe that with enough effort and time, they will be able to achieve this goal. And this is undoubtedly exciting news for the fans, as they have the opportunity to witness the father and son duo create more glory and legend on the NBA stage.