LeBron James needs rest to heal before historic 23rd season
LeBron James is taking the summer to recover from a nagging left knee injury that got worse during the Lakers’ brief playoff run in April. The superstar’s main goal? Being completely healthy when training camp rolls around in September.
“I feel good,” the 40-year-old told The Associated Press during an interview about his new Amazon commercial titled “What’s Next?”
James sprained a ligament in his final game of the season against the Timberwolves, but isn’t worried about the recovery timeline.
“I have a lot of time to take care of my injury, my knee, the rest of my body and make sure I’m as close to 100 percent as possible when training camp begins in late September,” he explained.
Taking care of his body has become crucial for the forward as he continues performing at an elite level well into his fourth decade.
James has a player option worth about $56 million for next season, a decision made easier by his family’s unwavering support.
“They’re like, ‘Dad, continue on your dream. This is your dream. Continue on your focus. You’ve been here for us this whole time,'” LeBron revealed.
“When you have that type of support… it makes it a lot easier.”
The Lakers star averaged 24.4 points, 8.2 assists and 7.8 rebounds last season.
He also became the oldest player ever selected to an All-NBA team, adding another milestone to his legendary career.
The NBA’s all-time scoring leader knows retirement is approaching, but hasn’t set a specific date. He even mentioned how “insane” it would be to stay long enough to play alongside his younger son Bryce, who becomes draft eligible next year.
“At this point of my career, you think about when the end is. That’s human nature,” James admitted. “You think, is it this year? Or next year? Those thoughts always creep into your mind at this point of the journey. But I have not given it a specific timetable, date. I’m seeing how my body and family reacts too.”
