LeBron James -- See myself with Los Angeles Lakers 'as long as I can play'

LOS ANGELES — After eyebrow-raising comments made by LeBron James leading up to the trade deadline and continuing through All-Star weekend caused the basketball world to speculate about his future with the Los Angeles Lakers, James made a few things very clear on Friday night.

To begin with, he wants the Lakers — the team he has played for for the past four seasons of his 19-year career — to be the final franchise he plays for.

«This is a franchise I see myself being with. I'm here. I'm here,» he said after the Lakers' 105-102 loss to the LA Clippers. «I see myself being with the purple and gold as long as I can play.»

Along with that aim, James, who is under contract for one more season in L.A. and will be eligible to sign a two-year extension this summer worth north of $97 million, would like to play in the NBA alongside his 17-year-old son, Bronny, who is currently a junior in high school.

«I also have a goal that, if it's possible — I don't even know if it's possble — that if I can play with my son, I would love to do that,» said James, 37. «Is that, like, something that any man shouldn't want that in life? That's like the coolest thing that could possibly happen. That doesn't mean I don't want to be with this franchise.»

Under the terms of the current collective bargaining agreement, Bronny would not be eligible to play in the league until the 2024-25 season.

James told The Athletic over All-Star weekend in Cleveland, «My last year will be played with my son.… Wherever Bronny is at, there's where I'll be. I would do whatever it takes to play with my son for one year. It's not about the money at that point.»

While it remains to be seen what the next two years would do for Bronny's draft stock, there are plenty of