LeBron James Would ‘Love to Spend Rest of Career in Miami,’ Not Focused on Impending Free Agency
LeBron James will have the option to opt out of the final two years of his contract with the Miami Heat and become a free agent in July 2014, but the superstar says he isn’t looking ahead, but rather, he’s just focused on the upcoming season.
“I have absolutely no idea,” James told ESPN.com about his impending free agency. “I would love to spend the rest of my career in Miami with this great team and great organization as we continue to compete for championships. That’s ideal. But we don’t know what may happen from now to the end of the season.
James could headline a free agency class that would also include Kobe Bryant and Carmelo Anthony, as well as his teammates Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh — if they choose to opt out also. It may be difficult for Heat fans to fathom a team without those three on the American Airlines court, but James is mum about what the future holds.
“I mean, as a kid, I never thought the Bulls would break up. Never. If you’d of told me as a kid that [Michael] Jordan and [Scottie] Pippen wouldn’t play together for the rest of their lives, I’d have looked at you crazy. And Phil Jackson wouldn’t be the coach? I’d have looked at you crazy. But sometimes the nature of the business doesn’t allow things to happen like you would want them to. But we’ll see.”
The Heat will look to capture their third straight championship this season, and James adamantly maintains that winning the trophy will be the No. 1 priority despite all the distractions that will be heading his way about the summer of 2014.
“I owe it to myself, I owe it my teammates and I owe it to the Miami Heat to stay focused,” he said. “As a leader, I’m not even going to let that side of the business get me unfocused on what I’m trying to do and that’s trying to win another championship.”
