Lakers' Anthony Davis: LeBron James Told Me He Could Retire Before 2024 Olympics

Should LeBron James return for a 21st season in the NBA, the Los Angeles Lakers star still may not be long for the league.

ESPN's Dave McMenamin reported James has told teammate Anthony Davis he might retire before the 2024 Summer Olympics get underway in Paris. The quadrennial event will begin next July after the 2023-24 NBA campaign concludes.

That timeline would mean James wouldn't wait for his oldest son, Bronny, to reach the NBA. He has said on multiple occasions he'd like to team up with his son in the league before he walks away from the sport.

Following Monday's 113-111 loss to the Denver Nuggets, James struck a reflective tone and acknowledged nothing is guaranteed on that front.

"I've done what I've had to do in this league, and my son is going to take his journey," he said, per McMenamin. "And whatever his journey, however his journey lays out, he's going to do what's best for him. ... So, just because that's my aspiration or my goal, doesn't mean it's his. And I'm absolutely OK with that."

Leaving aside that dynamic, there's the simple fact that James might feel differently about playing another two years because getting to where he needs to be physically grows more and more difficult.

Former NFL quarterback Tom Brady referenced those challenges ahead of the 2022 season.

"When the football season starts, I think everyone knows it's 100 percent football, and it's just the way you have to be and it's a big commitment to make" he told reporters. "And in order to play every game you've got to train really hard, so I've got to train really hard at 44 years old, which is a big commitment."

Aside from potentially being teammates with his son, there isn't much more for James to achieve. His legacy is secured. Winning another title would be nice, but kicking back and avoiding the grind of an NBA campaign wouldn't be that bad, either.

It's not like the 38-year-old won't have other pursuits to help occupy his time.

An initial level of shock will follow whenever James decides to retire. That's natural with somebody with his stature.

Should his retirement come after the 2023-24 season, nobody should be that surprised.