ESPN insider shares surprising update on LeBron James' retirement timeline refuting other reports 

LeBron James will go down as one of the all-time NBA greats when he decides to retire. Over the last few seasons, James has consistently been asked whether or not he has considered retirement, and LeBron's response has mostly been the same; he's focused on this season and will reflect on things when it's over. However, one NBA Insider says that James won't retire for a while.

ESPN's Brian Windhorst has followed LeBron James since he was in high school at St. Vincent-St. Mary and has remained close with him throughout his time in the NBA. The latest LeBron report from Windhorst contained a surprising statement concerning the end of James' career; he might stay on the court for multiple seasons instead of designating next year as his last in the NBA.

The report comes as LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers are in the process of implementing five time All-NBA first team guard Luka Dončić. Los Angeles acquired Dončić from the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a first round pick in one of the most surprising trades in NBA history.

The addition of Dončić vastly improves the Los Angeles Lakers' future as competitors in the Western conference, which could help them convince LeBron James to continue playing with the team. James has spoken highly of Dončić since he entered the league in 2018, and has expressed excitement at the opportunity of playing alongside him for the forseeable future.

James has continued to play at a high level despite being the oldest active player in the NBA at 40 years old, being named as an All-Star starter for the 21st straight season. The longevity of his career is unprecendented in the NBA, but the thing that will keep him in the league is the fact that he hasn't experienced a dramatic dropoff in his statistics.

How far can LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers go this season?

LeBron James has led the Lakers(32-20) into the thick of contention in the Western Conference, and the addition of Luka Dončić gives him another playmaker to hand the offensive reigns to so. In his latest championship season back in 2020, James benefited from being able to rest and enter the postseason at full energy. Dončić's talent could allow James to take a backseat until April.

James has been excellent in his 22nd season, averaging 24.3 points, nine assists and almost eight rebounds so far this season, playing 48 of the Lakers' 52 games. If he can stay healthy, James has a chance to lead the re-tooled Lakers on another deep playoff run alongside fellow superstar Luka Dončić.