Basketball great LeBron James sits on the sidelines during The Skill Factory and Strive for Greatness game at the Peach Jam in North Augusta, S.C., on Thursday, July 21, 2022. TSF defeated Strive for Greatness 65-50. Katie Goodale / USA TODAY NETWORK

Lakers' LeBron James shares Sports Illustrated cover with sons Bronny, Bryce

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 8/30/22

It was learned earlier this month that NBA superstar LeBron James had put pen to paper on a two-year, $97.1 million contract extension that includes a player option for the 2024-25 season to remain with the Los Angeles Lakers.

While James will turn 38 years old before the end of the year, it's clear he's already thinking beyond the expiration of his deal.

As noted by TMZ Sports, James is once again gracing the cover of Sports Illustrated for an October 2022 issue, but the four-time NBA champion isn't alone. Sons Bronny and Bryce are also featured in the photo and are labeled "The Chosen Sons" roughly 20 years after Sports Illustrated referred to James as "The Chosen One" before the Cleveland Cavaliers drafted him first overall in 2003.

James is rocking a picture of the original cover on his T-shirt for the October release:

From The Chosen One to The Chosen Sons.

LeBron, Bronny, and Bryce James are your Sports Illustrated cover and it’s lit pic.twitter.com/TayLfCw2HF
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) August 30, 2022

James previously made it publicly known he'd love to play alongside 17-year-old Bronny at the highest level for at least one season, and his contract extension may allow him to do just that a couple of years down the road:

This makes sense: LeBron James’ player option year in his contract extension, 2024-25, is also the first year that son Bronny will be eligible to play in the NBA.
— John Fanta (@John_Fanta) August 17, 2022

However, basketball's "King" also told SI's Chris Ballard he isn't closing the door on possibly teaming up with 15-year-old Bryce, as well.

"I’d definitely be looking at who got first-round picks in 2024, 2025, things of that nature; 2026, '27. I pay attention to that type of stuff," James explained for the piece. "I feel like I could play for quite a while. So it’s all up to my body, but more importantly, my mind. If my mind can stay sharp and fresh and motivated, then the sky’s not even a limit for me. I can go beyond that. But we shall see."

As Ballard wrote, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady is about to start what may be the final regular season of his historic NFL career at the age of 45. Perhaps James playing through and past his 43rd birthday shouldn't be considered all that unrealistic.

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