Lakers’ LeBron James confirms return for 2023-24 NBA season

LeBron James says he can still give the game everything | 2023 ESPYS (📍 @CapitalOne)

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James officially confirmed Wednesday night at the 2023 ESPY Awards that he would return to the basketball court in the upcoming 2023-24 NBA season.

James’ official announcement clarifies the speculations surrounding his future on the court. Now the Lakers can shift their attention to preparing for the upcoming season.

“The real question for me is, ‘Can I play without cheating this game?’ The day I can’t give the game everything on the floor is the day I’ll be done. Lucky for you guys, that day is not today,” James said during the Awards.

James spoke about possibly retiring after the Lakers lost to the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference finals in May. During a press conference, he said he had “a lot to think about” regarding his basketball future. His statement created quite a buzz on social media.

ESPN reporter Dave McMenamin later sought clarification to understand what he meant. McMenamin reported on Twitter that James was contemplating “whether to continue playing” or not.

“I don’t care how many more points I score, or what I can or cannot do on the floor. The real question for me is: Can I play without cheating this game?”

LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers forward

James’ agent, Rich Paul, initially shared about his return in an interview with Sirius XM NBA radio. Around two weeks after the Denver Nuggets swept the Lakers, James texted Paul about preparing for the upcoming season.

Lakers’ new addition

Once the initial surprise of James hinting at retirement subsided, the Lakers started working under the assumption that he would indeed play in the upcoming season.

The team strategically built its roster with James in mind, adding skilled shooters like Gabe Vincent and Taurean Prince. It also brought in young talented players with untapped potential, like Jaxson Hayes and Cam Reddish.

The 19-time All-Star player expressed his support for the team’s decisions through a series of posts on his Instagram story, making it clear that he was excited about playing alongside this roster.

Last season, James averaged 28.9 points, 8.3 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game. The 2023-24 will be James’ 21st NBA season.