LeBron James secured his immediate future in Los Angeles by signing a two-year $104 million deal. But there was a chance he could have signed for three years. It sparked some confusion. Did he sign a short-term deal to keep the doors open on retiring after one season? Does James want flexibility to move if the Lakers don’t compete deep into this season? Several possibilities are open, but Brian Windhorst thinks the Akron Hammer will line up his career perfectly with this next objective.

“What has he made clear, very clear, that is after playing with his son- he wants to be the owner of the coming expansion team in Las Vegas. So the biggest thing other than health that we’re going to see that is going to determine when the end of LeBron’s career is when the owners of the league set forth a timeline about when they are going to establish that expansion team in Las Vegas.

“Now nothing is assured and they keep putting that asterisk on everything. But I suspect once the TV rights deal gets wrapped up, which should be this summer sometime… they are going to bring expansion to the table,” Windhorst noted. So what does this mean for LeBron James? Windhorst feels the King will play at least two more seasons before retiring. That is assuming expansion talks begin by the 2025-26 season and he can then begin collecting the resources for his long-term Las Vegas dream.

However, even if it is delayed, the ESPN analyst was open to imagining James playing for another three seasons. Interestingly, that would see him remain an NBA star until Bryce’s rookie season.

“I mean, after 21 years in, you just get stronger…Tell them you’re not done until you play with your son. Then do that again,” was what Savannah told LeBron James during an advert for Beats by Dre. Maybe that was to add gravitas to the creation. It could also be a concealed dream of James, who is confident in sustaining his current health in the long run.

If he stretches his career to playing while he’s 42 years old, like Tom Brady once did, there is a chance LeBron James could become the first player to play with both his sons before any other father gets to do it with just one! The chances of it happening are either way very, very slim. But James could blow it out of reach if he holds tight until his 16-year-old son is eligible to play in the NBA.

On the other hand, by the looks of it, Bryce is just as motivated as his elder brother. Furthermore, he is already taller than Bronny. Experts have argued he boasts better talent than his sibling. Recently, the younger James was also picked for the USA U17 team joining Carmelo Anthony’s Kiyan Anthony and other NBA star kids. “LeBron’s more naturally talented son appears to be Bryce,” Windhorst once admitted!

Do you think LeBron James will aim at playing with his younger son too?

Bryce James is not a believer!

LeBron James was 39 last season. He still managed to play 71 games, his highest tally since the 2017-18 season. The 20x NBA All-Star was again named to an All-NBA team as he averaged 25.7 points while hitting a career-high 40.1% from three. No signs point to the vet struggling to make an impact as he ages.

In fact, his production is comparable to a young and budding Anthony Edwards, who had a similar season by numbers. Of course, defensively, James’ activity has decreased. But these numbers are far ahead of someone who should be on their last legs.

Judging from that fact, Bryce James was asked about his father potentially playing alongside him, just like he will with Bronny James when the next season begins. The 16-year-old, however, wasn’t playing on those odds. “I’m not gonna lie, that’s OD. Waiting until I – nah, that’s too much. That’s too much, no. No, good lord. He’s going to be 42, bro,” he said in an Instagram live after his brother’s draft.

If not, the Las Vegas expansion team could be an indication of LeBron James’ playing career. He has repeatedly expressed his desire to own an NBA franchise one day. It doesn’t necessarily mean he would. But one would imagine that when the opportunity does come around, James would throw everything he can at it, which would need him to probably retire and re-focus his life.