NBA icon LeBron James is adamant that he wants to spend the twilight of his career chasing championships as he reaches his 38th birthday.
James has been unable to arrest the slide in form of his iconic LA Lakers franchise in his 20th season of an illustrious basketball career. And his impressive scoring haul proved in vein yet again as the Lakers were downed 112-98 on his return to former team Miami Heat in the latest festive fixture.
The veteran spearheaded his Los Angeles side with a strong 27-point performance, including nine rebounds and six assists, but Miami still dominated and inflicted the Lakers' ninth defeat in the past 13 games. And serial-winner James has cut a frustrated figure in the malaise that has seen the Lakers slump to 13th place out of 15 sides in the Western Conference.
James, who has two years left on his lucrative Lakers contract, has made it clear that he has no interest in allowing his career to fade away without competing for the biggest honours.
"I want to still be able to compete for championships because I know what I can still bring to any ball club with the right pieces," James said after the Miami defeat.
"I'm a winner and I want to win. And I want to win and give myself a chance to win and still compete for championships.
"That has always been my passion, that has always been my goal since I entered the league as an 18-year-old kid out of Akron, Ohio. And I know it takes steps to get there, but once you get there and know how to get there, playing basketball at this level just to be playing basketball is not in my DNA.
"It's not in my DNA anymore. So, we'll see what happens and see how fresh my mind stays over the next couple years."
James is widely considered one of the greatest to grace the court and he has been left frustrated at the recent demise in Lakers form. But the four-time NBA championship winner refused to be drawn on a retirement plan as he enters his third decade at the top of his sport.
"I don't have a number," James said when asked how long he has left competing. "I know as long as my mind stays in it, I can play at this level for a minute.
"Now, that's up to my mind. My body is going to be OK because if my mind is into it, I will make sure my body is taken care of and I'll continue to put in the work."
