LeBron, joined by Bronny, enters Year 22 with 'a lot in the tank' - ESPN

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — For a team that needed a second-half surge just to make the play-in tournament and then was summarily bounced out of the first round, leading to an offseason coaching change, there sure was an air of optimism in the building for the Los Angeles Lakers' annual media day Monday.

Nobody embodied it more than the 39-year-old LeBron James as he embarks on his 22nd season, tying Hall of Fame-inductee Vince Carter for the most in NBA history.

«I feel damn good,» James said during his news conference. «I had a great summer.»

James had reason to smile when both looking back at winning a gold medal at the Paris Olympics with Team USA and being named tournament MVP and when looking forward to becoming the first father to team up with his son in the league.

LeBron and his 19-year-old son, Bronny, were two of the first Lakers players to take the court, happily posing for photographs together in their gold Lakers uniforms.

«So I feel really good physically. Mentally, I feel really good. Really sharp. Very fresh. Looking forward to getting to work tomorrow. I have not thought about what the future holds. Kind of just living in the moment. Especially with Bronny being here, too. I don't want to take this moment for granted.»

Added Bronny: «This is a crazy feeling.… Just looking over at my dad taking pictures, it was like, 'What's going on right now?' [That was] literally my thoughts. Just kind of take it all in. Extremely grateful for the opportunity.»

James, who will turn 40 in December, said he was grateful for the tense moments when USA Basketball had to sweat out wins against Serbia in the semifinal and France in the Olympic final — an experience he likened to «two Game 7s back-to-back» — for renewing his spirit