LeBron James with hands on hips on the court.PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – DECEMBER 09: LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the second quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center on December 09, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
LeBron James has told a teammate he plans to be around for a bit longer than many expect.

LeBron James turns 39: Here are 3 evidence-based approaches he uses to stay fit - ABC News

The Los Angeles Lakers forward is currently playing out his 20th season and will turn 38 at the end of this month. However, according to Dennis Schroder, he doesn’t plan to retire anytime soon and wants to be in the NBA for at least five more years.

LeBron came into the NBA as an 18-year-old, straight out of high school, and has more than lived up to the hype. He has surpassed every expectation placed on him and has been the face of the league for several years.

LeBron James Chasing History

LBJ is now chasing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s top-scorer record and is well on pace to become the NBA’s most productive player in terms of points scored by early 2023. Should he play for as long as he intends to, the four-time champion should put himself way out of reach of any other players who chase the record.

James is under contract through the 2023/24 seasons and has an option for the following season. His goal to go another 5-7 years shouldn’t be much of a surprise as he has often expressed a desire to play with his son Bronny, who will have NBA eligibility in two years.

While he has been getting injured more often lately, now that age is catching up, LeBron keeps his body in great shape and hasn’t lost too much of his athleticism, if any. He’s still capable of performing highlight-worthy dunks but isn’t playing above the rim as much as he used to in an effort to preserve himself for when it matters most.

VIDEO: Stephen A. Smith Drops Bombshell Candidate For Los Angeles Lakers Head Coaching Vacancy

Los Angeles Lakers, Stephen A. Smith Monty WilliamsStephen A. Smith, Los Angeles Lakers (Image Credits: Getty Images)
In a recent episode of the show “First Take,” host Stephen A. Smith suggested a new name for the head coaching position of the Los Angeles Lakers. Smith believes that Monty Williams should “definitely” be considered as a candidate for the Lakers’ head coaching position. He also noted that despite the hype around JJ Redick, Williams could be a better candidate for the Lakers to consider.

“I know we’ve been talking a lot about JJ Reddick, but with Monty Williams available, that is a situation that the Los Angeles Lakers should look at, okay? So I would definitely say that as well. They should look at it.” Smith said.

Stephen A. Smith Expressed His Respect for the Los Angeles Lakers

Smith expressed his affection for Jeannie Buss, the Lakers owner, and showed his admiration for Rob Pelinka, the general manager, and Kurt Rambis, the basketball adviser. Smith suggested that all three Lakers officials should consider Williams a candidate for the head coaching position.

“Obviously, Jeannie Buss, you know how much I love Jeannie Buss. I’m rooting for her to find the right person for the job. Respect Rob Pelinka and what he’s going to do, you know, and yes, I respect Kurt Rambis too. I was joking around about him earlier, but I respect him too. So listen, they’re all going to be a part of the process, and we’ll see what happens. And, you know, I think Monty Williams definitely should be a candidate for that job.” Smith added.

After being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Denver Nuggets, the Lakers decided to make some changes to improve the team. They started by firing all of the coaches, including head coach Darvin Ham. Following this action, the Lakers began searching for a potential candidate to lead the team in the next season. The first rumored candidate was Redick, possibly due to his podcast with star player LeBron James. The second speculated candidate was Dan Hurley, who later changed his mind and chose to stay with UConn.