LeBron James on his legacy ahead of 22nd NBA season: "Everything else is extra credit"
The recently crowned Olympic champion at Paris 2024 and four-time NBA champion is secure with his basketball legacy ahead of his 40th birthday.
Basketball
Fresh off winning his third Olympic gold medal, LeBron James is sure that his legacy is already secure.
Now on the verge of his 40th birthday, the forward is on the verge of a 22nd season in the league, and his second as the oldest player competing in the NBA.
Speaking at the Los Angeles Lakers training camp, James said (as per Reuters), "Is there anything left for me to accomplish as a basketball player? No. Everything else is extra credit. I'll take it though. I love it. I love what I do. But I've got everything."
The basketball great helped Team USA to a dramatic gold at Paris 2024, defeating France 98-87 in a classic final at the Bercy Arena.
It sealed a fourth Olympic medal for LeBron, having made his debut at Athens 2004 as a 19-year-old off the back of his rookie season in the NBA.
Going into the 2024/25 campaign, James is a four-time NBA champion, four-time NBA MVP, and four-time NBA Finals MVP. He was also named Rookie of the Year for his 2004 debut season, and named an NBA All-Star for 20 consecutive years and counting. He's the top points scorer in history, and will extend that record with every basket.
"I'm going to lead by example. I'm going to lead with my voice,” he went on to explain of his role this season. “My voice is very commanding. We have to hold each other accountable, help each other, demand more out of each other.”
James Sr. is certainly relishing this season for the opportunity to play with his son, Bronny James, who was drafted to the LA Lakers a month before his father was set to compete at Paris 2024.
LeBron and the LA Lakers begin their NBA regular season at home, when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves on 22 October.