INGLEWOOD, CA — LeBron James, holding court before his record 22nd NBA All-Star appearance, took some time to reflect on his future — but not too much.
At 41 years old, James remains an impact player and is reimagining what can be expected of a player his age. And though there has been plenty of speculation about James’ future beyond this season, he said he has not made up his mind on potential retirement.
“I want to live,” James told reporters Sunday, Feb. 15. “When I know, you guys will know. I have no idea. I just want to live, that’s all.”
James was speaking at a press conference at the Intuit Dome, hours before he plays for Team Stars in the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, which will employ a USA vs. World format.
James recently became the oldest player in NBA history to record a triple-double and is averaging 22.0 points, 7.1 assists and 5.8 rebounds per game across 36 appearances.
But he’s essentially on an expiring contract, and will be able to test the open market this offseason, a rarity for a player of his stature.
The Los Angeles Lakers went into the All-Star break 33-21, in fifth place in the Western Conference, which is crowded at the top. Just three games separate the No. 6 team, the Timberwolves, and the No. 2 team, the Spurs.
James has maintained that he wants to compete for championships in his final seasons, but Los Angeles will face stiff competition for the conference title.
This has been magnified by injury issues the Lakers have faced.
“Most important for our ball club right now is health,” James said. “I can’t state it any more clearly. I’m not quite sure how many games we’ve had where we’ve had a full roster. We’re over the half-way point and it has not been many games. …
“Our success is going to come down to our health. Our coaching staff is going to put us in the right position, they’re going to give us the game plan every night, but when it comes to what we have to work with, we actually have to see it.”
When James was asked if the uncertainty surrounding his personal future in Los Angeles was weighing on him in any way, he rejected that notion.
“Nah, we’re gearing up toward the postseason,” he said. “It has nothing to do with that. Same motivation, same mind factor. We got past the marathon and now the sprint is about to start. I think everybody understands that.”
Still, James was asked about his post-playing plans, and if he had any ambitions about ownership of an NBA team. He said he would explore that and any other potential ventures that might interest him down the road, though he stressed that his focus is on the remainder of the season.
“What I want to do at 45, 50 and 55 will be creating great vibes and fun with my family and my friends. That’s one of my passions: creating memories that will last forever. That’s for sure the most important thing for me, creating things that we will never forget.”