Lakers

LeBron James scored 27 points, but the Lakers committed 26 turnovers in the 112-98 loss to the Heat on Wednesday in Miami.

And I want to win and give myself a chance to win and still compete for championships,” James said directly. I think about the day to day of how we get better throughout the course of the season. “I’m a winner and I want to win. Because of the extension, he’s ineligible to be traded until after this season. He can become a free agent before the 2024 season by declining an approximate $50 million option. But how we get better from game to game,” he said.

AP - Jimmy Butler scored 27 points, Bam Adebayo added 23 points and 14 rebounds and the Miami Heat moved over .500 by topping the Los Angeles Lakers 112-98 ...

It was the 14th time that James had scored at least 27 points in Miami — his former home — as an opponent. James averaged 30.1 points in games played at 37, by far the most in NBA history. 6 for James — retired eventually by the Heat as well. The Lakers fell to 14-21. 40 for Haslem, No. "We kept the lead," Adebayo said.

Playing the Miami Heat on the second game of a road back-to-back is never a fun time for any team, but the experience was especially rough for the ...

But at the end of the day I keep the main thing the main thing, and when it's time for us to work, I lock in. "I asked him how much longer he wants to play and he said he wants to play for five to seven more years," [Schroder said](https://www.si.com/nba/heat/miami-news/teammate-says-lebron-james-plans-on-playing-until-hes-45). I think about my son graduating high school soon and going off to college and I'm still playing and my youngest son will be a junior next year and how much more time I'll miss. That extension put him on the same timeline as Davis, who also has the ability to opt out in the summer of 2024. "I think about how much longer I'm gonna play the game," James said. "I think about how I don't want to finish my career playing at this level, from a team aspect. The widely held belief around the league is that James wants to play with his oldest son, Bronny, and that would require him playing until he's at least 40. I want to win and give myself a chance to win, and still compete for championships. My body is gonna be OK, because if my mind is into it I'll make sure my body is taken care of, and I'll continue to put in the work. "I'm a winner and I want to win. [Miami Heat](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/MIA/miami-heat/) on the second game of a road back-to-back is never a fun time for any team, but the experience was especially rough for the short-handed [Los Angeles Lakers](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/LAL/los-angeles-lakers/) on Wednesday night. 30, James was asked some big picture questions about what's going through is mind these days and how much longer he wants to play.

Coming off a much-needed win over the Orlando Magic on Tuesday, the Los Angeles Lakers headed to FTX Arena to take on the Miami Heat.

Playing basketball at this level just to be playing basketball is not in my DNA.”

Los Angeles Lakers star forward LeBron James knows his legendary career doesn't have many years left, but he understands that it will take a mental ...

... We'll see what happens and see how fresh my mind stays over the next couple years." "I'm a winner, and I want to win. "I don't have a number," he said. "I know as long as my mind stays in it, I can play at this level for a minute. It's not in my DNA anymore. [said](https://twitter.com/mcten/status/1608313403185020931), later [adding](https://twitter.com/mcten/status/1608313610207379457), "I know it takes steps to get there, but once you get there & know how to get there, playing basketball at this level just to be playing basketball is not in my DNA.

LeBron James wants to spend the twilight of his Hall of Fame career contending for championships again, not going through the motions on a losing team.

“I want to win and give myself a chance to win and still compete for championships. [choosing to maximize his flexibility this summer](https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/07/25/lebron-james-contract-extension-lakers/?itid=lk_inline_manual_12), though, James [signed a two-year, $97 million extension with the Lakers](https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/08/17/lebron-james-lakers-extension/?itid=lk_inline_manual_12) in August. Even so, the Lakers have yet to make any trades this season to acquire the necessary athleticism, size and wing depth to keep up with the league’s best. “I’m a winner and I want to win,” James said. With Davis sidelined indefinitely, though, there’s a strong argument to hold tight until the summer, when Russell Westbrook’s $47 million salary comes off the books, thereby giving the Lakers greater flexibility to pursue higher-level trade targets and free agents. But James is in danger of missing the playoffs for the second consecutive season, something he hasn’t experienced since his first two years in the NBA. By comparison, the Washington Wizards won 37 games each in 2001-2002 and 2002-03 during Michael Jordan’s oft-overlooked final chapter. Perhaps it wasn’t a coincidence that James, who turns 38 on Friday, had championship contention on his mind while playing in Miami, where he won two of his four titles and made four straight Finals appearances from 2011 to 2014. My body is going to be okay. [While his game has shown signs of slippage](https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/11/10/lebron-james-groin-injury-lakers/?itid=lk_inline_manual_12), James remains one of the NBA’s top players as he closes in on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time scoring record, averaging 27.8 points, 8.1 rebounds and 6.6 assists this season. I think about how I don’t want to finish my career playing at this level from a team aspect. After failing to reach the playoffs last season, Los Angeles sits in the West’s 13th playoff spot, 8½ games back of the top-seeded New Orleans Pelicans.

MIAMI – Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James remains “locked in” on basketball as he turns 38 on Friday, but the four-time National Basketball ...

“I think about how much longer I’m going to play the game,” he said. “I think about a little bit of everything,” he said. It’s not in my DNA anymore.”