LeBron James admits winning is the priority as he nears his 38th birthday after LA Lakers’ big loss

LeBron James isn’t satisfied despite a stellar 20th season on an individual front as the LA Lakers continue to slide. 

In his return to Miami, the Lakers never looked likely, trailing sizably at the end of each quarter in a 112-98.  

James was again the standout for LA, scoring 27 points, grabbing nine rebounds and dishing six assists. 

LeBron James top-scored for the Lakers as he had in seven of their previous eight NBA games

Though it is far from enough to satisfy the appetite of one of the NBA’s greatest ever, who was in a philosophical mood postgame.

‘I don’t want to finish my career playing at this level, from a team aspect,’ James said after defeat. 

‘I want to still be able to compete for championships because I know what I can still bring to any ballclub with the right pieces.

On his return to Miami, James had 27 points, nine rebounds and six assists in the 112-98 loss

‘I think about my son graduating high school soon and going off to college and I’m still playing and my youngest son will be a junior next year and how much more time I’ll miss.’

Despite NBA mortality nearing, the ultimate desire has not and will not alter for the 37-year-old, who turns 38 on Friday.

‘I’m a winner and I want to win,’ James remarked. ‘And I want to win and give myself a chance to win and still compete for championships. That has always been my passion, that has always been my goal since I entered the league as an 18-year-old kid out of Akron, Ohio.

‘And I know it takes steps to get there, but once you get there and know how to get there, playing basketball at this level just to be playing basketball is not in my DNA. It’s not in my DNA anymore. 

James reunited with old friend Udonis Haslem as the Lakers’ lost again, falling to a paltry 14-21

‘So, we’ll see what happens and see how fresh my mind stays over the next couple years.’

The loss in James’s former arena dropped the once-perennially winning franchise to 14-21 on the season.  

It is the Lakers’ fifth loss in six games. ‘The King’ has top-scored for LA in seven of its last eight — only missing out against the Suns after not playing due to injury. 

LA are dead last in the Pacific division of the West, four games back from the Golden State Warriors and 10 behind the leading Clippers. 

As for the Western Conference, it doesn’t read much better with the Lakers 13th of 15 teams — only San Antonio and Houston have worse records.