NBA star LeBron James has said that he is not yet ready to retire amid speculations over his future.
The Los Angeles Lakers player made this known at the ESPY awards ceremony on Wednesday while accepting the Best Record-Breaking Performance award for surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA's all-time leading scorer.
James, who received the award from his two sons, insisted that he is coming back in 2023-24 despite floating the potential of retirement after losing the Western Conference final to eventual champions Denver Nuggets in May.
"I don't care how many more points I can score or what I can or can't do on the floor," James responded to walking away from the sport.
LeBron James at the ESPY Awards ceremony
"The real question for me is, can I play without cheating this game? The day I can't play without giving everything on the floor is the day I'll be done.
"Lucky for you guys, that day is not today."
The all-time league-leading scorer, who will be 39 in December, added that his reason not to retire stems from coaching his sons which helps maintain his enthusiasm.
"You know what brings me back every year? It's watching and coaching my boys and their teammates. I see those kids and it brings me right back to why I play.
"Those kids get me back to where I need to be, just the pure love of this beautiful game. So, yeah, I still got something left. A lot left."
James signed a two-year contract extension with the Lakers last August that would keep him at the club through the 2024-2025 season.
He averaged 28.9 points, 8.3 rebounds and 6.8 assists and shot 50 per cent from the field in 55 games in the season just gone.
The 38-year-old also made history last season with yet another All-NBA selection for the 19th consecutive time, widening the gap between himself and the three players with the second-most All-NBA selections, namely: late Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, Lakers great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Hall of Famer Tim Duncan.
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