How the NBA and NBPA’s new CBA talks could impact LeBron James’ future with the Los Angeles Lakers
LeBron James
© Tommy Gilligan - USA TODAY Sports
Some significant changes could be on the way very soon in the NBA. While nothing is official yet, reports have begun to filter out that the NBA and NBPA have entered serious talks over some of the matters that will flare up in the league’s new Collective Bargaining Agreement discussions.
Among the changes mentioned was a bump down in the draft-eligibility age from 19 to 18, which means that the high school to NBA path that some of the all-time greats have taken could be an avenue for players to explore once again.
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The NBA’s new CBA could impact LeBron’s future with the Lakers
One player who entered the NBA right out of high school was Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James. James opted not to play college basketball and instead decided to be part of the 2003 NBA Draft class, where he was taken first overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers. We all know what has happened since then.
But what happens for James in the future may become a hot topic of discussion because of the NBA’s new rule regarding the draft-eligibility age. James has made it clear that he would like to play his sons Bronny and Bryce to close out his career. While it was already a possibility, it becomes even more likely if this change gets through. Here’s a tweet from Tom Haberstroh that clearly outlines why this change could have a massive impact on James’ future.
Could LeBron James leave the Lakers to team up with his sons?
James has made it clear over the past year or so that, assuming his kids make it to the NBA, which seems pretty likely to happen, he would like to play with them to close out his career. The odds of that happening decreased slightly when he signed a massive two-year, $97.1 million extension with the Lakers this offseason, though. But James can become a free agent after the 2024 season, right when Bronny would be draft-eligible if the NBA lowered the age to 18 again.
It seems like that would work into James’ plan and could help him achieve his goal. James is already 37 years old, and he may hit a wall at some point, but that hasn’t looked likely so far, and chances are he can play well into his 40s if he wants to. That would at least ensure him some time in the league with Bronny and Bryce.
However, playing on the same team would require much more work, considering that both Bronny and Bryce would be subject to the draft rather than free agents who can pick where they play. Players in the NBA have more control over where they play than ever before, but do they have the amount of control that James would need to make this type of move happen? If this change ends up being made, we may soon find out.
