LeBron's Future Addressed by Adam Silver amid NBA Rumors on Lakers, Warriors, Cavs and Retirement

NBA commissioner Adam Silver says he's received "every indication" Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James plans to return for a 24th NBA season next fall.

"I haven't talked to him since the season ended," Silver said around the 37:30 mark of Friday's episode of The Carton Show on WFAN. "I have every indication that he plans to keep playing next year. He certainly hasn't said [otherwise]."

Silver went on to praise James for remaining one of the league's top players during his historic 23rd season and his age-41 campaign in the league.

"I want LeBron to play as long as he actually wants to play. It's not just a 41-year-old player, with the most points ever and the most so many different categories, but he's also playing at an incredibly high level, he's not just out there," Silver said.

Silver continued, "We all watch players in many other sports just kind of hang out at the end. He's not hanging on. He's playing at an incredibly high level. He's doing things 25-year-olds don't do."

James averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists in 60 regular-season games while playing for the Lakers on an expiring contract. He has been connected to both the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers should he sign a contract with a new team this offseason.

ESPN's Dave McMenamin reported in January the Cavaliers "would gladly welcome James back this summer if he wanted to return" for a third stint with the franchise he led to a title in 2016.

The Warriors, who could be looking to capitalize on the final year of Stephen Curry's current contract, have "serious" interest in James, per The Athletic's Dan Woike and Sam Amick.

Woike and Amick also noted that "retirement remains a real possibility" for James, and that "the Lakers have not closed the door on James returning next season."

Before addressing questions regarding his plans for next season, James will look to answer whether he can lead the Lakers out of the first round while, at least for now, missing both Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves to injury.

James, who often took on a tertiary role behind Dončić and Reaves this regular season, will be tasked with leading the Lakers offense when Saturday night's series-opening game against the Houston Rockets tips off at 8:30 p.m. ET in Los Angeles.