How will LeBron James' desire to play with Bronny affect his retirement decision?

LeBron James looked tired.

The 19-time All-Star's dominance fluctuated throughout the NBA playoffs that culminated in the Western Conference finals. In Game 2, he didn’t score until a dunk with 6:49 left in the first quarter and whiffed a breakaway windmill dunk that had Ball Arena reveling in his embarrassment. He finished the series with a career-playoff-high 31 points in the first half of Game 4 on Monday, but had just nine points in the second half as the Los Angeles Lakers were swept by the Denver Nuggets.

The exasperation from on the court carried into the press room when he pondered his future on the same day that his draft classmate Carmelo Anthony retired.

“We’ll see what happens going forward. I don’t know,” James, 38, told reporters on his potential return. “I’ve got a lot to think about, to be honest, and just with me personally going forward with the game of basketball, I’ve got a lot to think about.”

RETIREMENT NEAR LeBron James hints at retirement, a reality that shouldn't surprise NBA fans

One of the key factors that might affect his decision is the chance to play with his son Bronny James, 18.

What are LeBron James' most recent comments about playing with Bronny?

LeBron James spoke to the media after a Game 3 win over the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference semifinals. It was the same day that Bronny committed to play basketball at Southern California. The four-time Finals MVP expressed how proud he was of his son, who will be the first member of his family to go to college.

The NBA scoring king did acknowledge that the potential of playing with Bronny is still a hope of his, but his perspective has shifted.

“I was serious and I’m still serious about it,” James said after Monday's Game 4, according to The Athletic. “Obviously, I got to continue to keep my body and my mind fresh. I think my mind, most importantly. If my mind goes then my body will just be like, ‘OK, what are we doing?’

“But, at the end of the day, either if I am or if I’m not, I’ve done what I’ve had to do in this league and my son is going to take his journey. And whatever his journey, however his journey lays out, he’s going to do what’s best for him. … So, just because that’s my aspiration or my goal, doesn’t mean it’s his. And I’m absolutely OK with that.”

When did LeBron James say he wanted to play with Bronny?

LeBron James first made headlines that he wanted to play in the NBA with Bronny when he spoke with The Athletic in February 2022 about his future, including the possibility of a third run with his hometown team, the Cleveland Cavaliers.

“My last year will be played with my son,” he declared. “Wherever Bronny is at, that’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.”

He emphasized his desire to play with Bronny again, while modifying the details, in a January feature by ESPN.

"I need to be on the floor with my boy, I got to be on the floor with Bronny," James said. "... Either in the same uniform or a matchup against him. I don't mean like [guarding one another all game] – because he's a point guard and I'm a, at this point now I'm playing center or whatever the team needs from me. But I would love to do the whole Ken Griffey Sr. and Jr. thing. That would be ideal for sure."

In 1990, Ken Griffey Sr. and his son Ken Griffey Jr. became the first father-son duo to be on the same MLB team ( Seattle Mariners).

What has Bronny James said about playing in the NBA?

Bronny James has not spoken to the public much about his career aspirations.

In a 2022 Sports Illustrated feature on the James family, the young guard shared his thoughts on his own hoop dreams.

"I’ll see what happens," he said. "I’m going to be playing basketball. If [I] go down that path, then it is what it is.”

And if the NBA doesn't give him a call, “I’m cool.”

SHOWING THE WORLD: How did Bronny James fare in McDonald's All American Game?

With the possibility of making the NBA — a February ESPN mock draft projected him to be a Top 10 lottery pick, though USA TODAY's didn't have him selected in the first round — Bronny has been hopeful. He has been invited to participate in top-level showcases, including the 2023 McDonald's All-American Game and the Nike Hoop Summit.

"I always believe in myself," he said during training for the latter event. "I try to just do that, keep a healthy mindset myself. But I have goals."

What is LeBron James' contract situation with the Lakers and how does that affect the likelihood of him playing with Bronny?

Last year, LeBron James signed a two-year, $97.1 million contract extension that takes effect next season. The deal has him signed for the 2023-24 season and includes a player option for 2024-25.

The contract does not include a no-trade clause and, as Bronny would most likely be drafted in the 2024 offseason, LeBron could find a way to get shipped to the team where his son lands.

For the Win points out that James could get out of playing the year in between Bronny's entry to the league by following the NBA's voluntary retirement rule. If he were to retire this offseason, he must sit out for a season and forego the salary from the first year of his extension. Then, he could pull a Michael Jordan, unretire and sign wherever he wants.

Another option is that he could undergo surgery for the torn tendon on his right foot. The recovery process from that could have him out for months, according to pennmedicine.org, and then he can be healthy ahead of the 2024-25 season ready to play with his son.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bronny James, NBA draft and how it could affect LeBron James' future