HOT TAKE
First Take star sitting in for Stephen A. Smith claims LeBron James preparing for career move as ‘face of the franchise’
Chris Russo hinted at when Smith could return
LEBRON James is reportedly plotting a huge new move away from the Los Angeles Lakers.
The NBA icon has teamed up with son Bronny in a first for the league after the Lakers drafted him in the second round.
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But Brian Windhorst, who is standing in for co-host Stephen A. Smith on First Take, says LeBron already has one eye on his next venture.
"What is the next thing that he wants? What has he made clear that is after playing with his son? He wants to be the owner of the coming expansion team in Las Vegas," Windhorst explained.
"So the biggest thing other than health that we're going to see that is going to determine when the end of LeBron's career is, is when the owners of the league set forth a timeline about when they're going to establish that expansion team in Las Vegas.
"Now nothing is assured and they keep putting that asterisk on everything, but I suspect once the TV rights deals get wrapped up, which should be this summer sometime, and they have that done. They have the CBA done, the TV deal done. They've extended Adam Silver's contract.
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"They're going to bring expansion to the table and they're going to probably pick a year in which that's going to be.
"It won't be next season, so it'll probably at the earliest be two years from now.
"And that's what I think LeBron will be focused on. He wants to join up with partners to become the face of the franchise in Las Vegas."
LeBron was desperate to play with Bronny, 19, but at 39, will know his days in the league are numbered.
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Windhorst says there are few signs of one of the all-time greats slowing down, however.
"We have to acknowledge that if you're 39 years old, of course you're year to year. You have no idea what injuries could happen or whatever," he added.
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"I think in any sport that would be the case. So yes, if you say it's year to year and his contracts are structured that way, absolutely.
"However, he just played the most games he's played as a Laker. This last season he played 71 games.
"That's the most since 2018. He was spectacular this season, 26 points, setting seven rebounds or eight rebounds, seven assists. He had a great year, no doubt.
"He had one of the best shooting years of his career. His defensive situation is not great, but you know, he can still turn it on occasionally.
Time for LeBron to retire?
"At the end of the day, I hate to say it, but I believe this in my soul right now - I wish LeBron James would retire.
"Not because I don't want to see more of LeBron James, not because I don't appreciate LeBron James.
"But I honestly believe deep down inside, the more LeBron James continues to play the game of basketball, the more it's going to hurt his legacy and the more it's going to continue to hurt his GOAT argument.
"As long as he steps foot on that floor, every single season, there's gonna expectations of him winning a championship.
"And when he don't do that, we're gonna be looking at him saying: 'Well what happened now?'"
ESPN star Kendrick Perkins speaking on First Take about LeBron James' future in the NBA
"His son just signed a four-year contract. You know, his son's not going year to year. So I don't think his intention is to only play one more year, acknowledging that it could be out of his hands.
"So LeBron has very clearly laid out with his words and actions what his checklist is.
"He wants to be a Laker, regardless of how he gets frustrated when they don't make moves or whatever. He keeps signing contracts with the Lakers.
"He's about to enter his seventh year there. That's the longest run he's had with any team. He's changed teams all these times. He's clearly a Laker. He's not going anywhere."
Smith may not return to First Take any time soon, as Chris Russo hinted that he could be away from the show for months on yesterday's edition.
"We are not gonna see you know who until the NBA tips off in October," Russo said.
"So Draymond Green, get used to it. On this show for the next three months, it's yours truly.
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"I will be the executive producer. I will bring in the cast. As Stevie A. says, First House, what's the show called!?
"First Take in the house."