As LeBron James enters the twilight of his NBA career, the conversation surrounding what his final years should look like has become more deliberate.
Longtime agent Rich Paul said those talks have taken place with a focus well beyond points or championships.
Paul recently opened up about his discussions with James about how to spend the remainder of their time in the league, emphasizing the importance of legacy, mentorship and influence within the locker room.
“I think in terms of LeBron's situation, no matter how many more years he has to play, and we've had that conversation, I think it's always important when the game gives you so much, and I think it's very important for you to create moments and memories for young players in your locker over the years, to share that locker room with you,” Paul said.
“Give them everything. Give them everything you have because you don't know how long you're going to be in those locker rooms. You're not going to get that again, which is why when I go [San Antonio] It means a lot that Tottenham have lockers at their facility and have lockers for their older players. This is a cultural issue. It's a building block type of thing, foundational stuff. “
Now in his 23rd season in the NBA, James has accomplished just about everything possible.
He is the league's all-time scoring leader, winning four championships and reaching the NBA Finals ten times with three teams.
James, 41, remains productive while playing alongside Luka Doncic in Los Angeles.
Although the Lakers now have a young superstar who may be the team's focal point moving forward, James is still performing at a high level, averaging 21.7 points, 5.4 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game while shooting 51.2% from the field.
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