LeBron James: Kids Will Be a 'Deciding Factor' in Length of Career

Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James told reporters he didn't see the end of his career in sight, even amidst his 15th season, though he acknowledged that his children would factor into any decisions about his future.

"The only thing is with my kids getting older, that's the only thing that kind of stops me from going as long as I'd like to," he said Thursday, per Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today. "I've got a 13-year-old son now (LeBron Jr.). He's in the seventh grade. He's a damn good basket player, too. On this road trip, I've already missed four of his games. That's the thing that kind of sucks.

"I've got a 10-year-old boy (Bryce), 3-year-old girl (Zhuri). Daddy side kicks in sometimes. That will be a deciding factor in how long I want to play."

James, 33, has shown no signs of slowing down anytime soon, averaging 27.2 points, 9.0 assists, 8.2 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.1 blocks per contest. He's one of the front-runners for the MVP award this season, and his excellent play is a major reason why the Cavaliers are 26-14 despite missing Isaiah Thomas for most of the year.

"Right now, I feel great. I don't feel 33," he noted. "I don't feel like I've been to [seven] straight finals in a row. I don't feel like I came in at 18 and I've played 79-80 percent of games. Just keep it going."

James' longevity and durability may be his most enduring traits. In his 15-year career, he's never missed more than 13 games in a season.

In the process, he's accumulated three titles, four MVPs and 13 All-Star nods, putting his name into the conversation of greatest basketball players to ever live alongside the likes of Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.

And for James, he's already accomplished more than he expected.

"I've already went further than I thought I would go," he said. "Everything after this point is extra credit. Fifteen years. I don't know, I've been in this spotlight for half of my years. I'm 33 now. This thing started when I was 15. Eighteen years I've been in this light. I've already exceeded everything I've dreamed about. At this point, I'm just adding crazy toppings on the cake like my daughter would do. Throw all kinds of stuff on the cake and whatever happens happens."