LeBron James has made it perfectly clear: coaching is not on the horizon for him once his playing career comes to an end.
The Los Angeles Lakers superstar, who has long been praised for his basketball IQ and leadership, was recently asked if he would ever trade in his jersey for a clipboard. His answer left no room for doubt.
“I was inspired by the game. I love the game. But I don’t have coaching in my future,” James told CGTN Sports Scene. When pressed further, he reiterated his stance, firmly dismissing the idea.
This marks the second time this offseason that James has rejected the notion of coaching. On his show, Mind the Game, earlier this summer, he was even more direct: “There’s no way, no way, guys. It ain’t happening. No team. Zero chance.”
For many, the statement may come as a surprise. James has consistently demonstrated an ability to read the game at an elite level, with teammates and analysts often describing his basketball IQ as unmatched.
Despite that, he appears comfortable leaving coaching out of the equation.
Front office and ownership could be the next chapter
While coaching is off the table, James is unlikely to disappear entirely from basketball. Speculation has swirled about potential involvement in the front office or even ownership, particularly with discussions about a possible NBA expansion team in Las Vegas.
Though nothing has been confirmed, this path aligns more naturally with his interests than taking the helm as a coach.
For now, his focus remains on extending his historic playing career with the Lakers. At age 40, James continues to perform at an elite level. Last season, he appeared in 70 games, averaging 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists while shooting 51 percent from the field and 38 percent from three-point range.
Despite these efforts, the Lakers finished third in the Western Conference before being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.
The upcoming season will mark James‘ 23rd in the league, and he remains under contract with Los Angeles after signing a two-year, $104 million extension in 2024.
His career resume is already legendary: four NBA championships, three Finals MVP awards with three different franchises, and the all-time scoring record.
As retirement draws closer, questions about what comes next will only grow louder. But one thing is certain: coaching will not be part of LeBron James‘ post-playing journey.
Instead, he appears poised to explore other avenues within the game while continuing to leave an indelible mark on the court with the Lakers.
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