Rich Paul Chimes In As LeBron James Considers Player Option For Next Season

Everyone in the NBA stratosphere waits on LeBron James‘ decision on whether he will use his player option with the Los Angeles Lakers and return with the team for a sixth season. The all-time leader in points has the chance to play in his 23rd season in the NBA, which would break the record that he shares with Vince Carter.

Uncertainty remains in this subject due to James suffering an MCL injury during the Lakers’ playoff loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs.

“I think [everybody has] been on pins and needles for a while,” Klutch Sports CEO/founder and James’ longtime agent Rich Paul said on The Rich Eisen Show. “I don’t know about that though. I wish I had the answer. I don’t know. It’s early. I don’t have conversations like that. I go into each year like he’s continuing to play. I never even talk about that.”

James will be turning 41 in December and remains a force on the court. He has been keeping up with the younger generation of NBA superstars. His experience and skill make him a scary opponent for NBA teams.

The decision to shock the NBA world and trade for superstar guard Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks midway through last season might be able to keep James in Los Angeles. The Lakers have many decisions to make in the offseason, and those decisions might make the discussion easier for James to stay or to retire.

“I don’t have to answer to that,” James said when retirement was mentioned. “Something I’ll sit down with my family, my wife and my support group and kind of talk through it and see what happens. And just have a conversation with myself on how long I want to continue to play. I don’t know the answer to that right now, to be honest. So we’ll see.”

James finished his 22nd season, averaging 24.4 points, 8.2 assists and 7.8 rebounds per game as the Lakers’ top player. After the loss to the Timberwolves in the first round, James has not offered any details about what he plans to do.