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Asked by reporters whether retirement had
crossed his mind, the 34-year-old James shook his head.
"I'm not at the end of my story," James said prior to a game
between his first place Lakers and the visiting Sacramento Kings
at Staples Center.
"So no, not the way I feel right now.
"Me and Tom Brady are one and the same. We're going to keep
playing until we can't walk no more," he said with a smile.
"As long as I still feel great and as long as I can still play
at a high level ... I will play this game until I physically
can't or ... mentally I'm a little checked out," he said.
"Then you could start looking at that. I have no idea when that
happens but I'm not there."
After missing time with injuries in a disappointing first season
with Los Angeles, it appeared the league's grueling schedule
might finally be catching up to the three-time NBA champion, who
reached the finals in eight consecutive seasons.
But James has been his dominant self in the early going of this
campaign, leading a retooled Lakers roster to a 9-2 record to
sit atop the loaded Western Conference.
James, who joined the NBA out of high school as the first
overall draft pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003, made his
comments the day after it was reported that 10-time All-Star
Carmelo Anthony would be making his return to the league.
The sharpshooting 35-year-old Anthony, who was also drafted in
2003, hasn't played in more than a year, and many thought his
playing days may be done. But he is now expected to join the
Portland Trail Blazers on a one-year contract.
Anthony isn't expected to make his Blazers debut until at least
Tuesday in New Orleans, meaning he will miss a chance to face
his most recent former team, the Houston Rockets, on Monday,
ESPN reported.
(Reporting by Rory Carroll; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
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