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Los Angeles Lakers
Aug 22, 2025 11:16 AM EDT
NBA superstar LeBron James opted into his final year of his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers this summer, paving the way for him to make history by recording his 23rd season in the NBA, which will officially pass Vince Carter as the longest-tenured player ever.
However, with the season still just over 60 days away, James had some big personal news that was announced on Thursday alongside his partnership with Nike.
He is set to return to China for the 20th anniversary of the “Forever King” Tour. He began his Asia tour back in 2005, and he will be making appearances in Shanghai and Chengdu in September to interact and work directly with young athletes in the Nike RISE program, and it’s rumored that he could even unveil his upcoming sneaker, the LeBron 23’s.
On Friday morning, James posted a three-word message in regard to the upcoming tour, which read, “See ya’ll soon!”
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LeBron James had some strong words about the fandom overseas and spoke highly of the “love and appreciation” for basketball in Asia.
“There’s an unbelievable love and appreciation for basketball in Asia that’s always incredible to experience,” James said. “To have the opportunity to share the game with fans and connect with athletes all over the world means a lot to me.
“My message has always been the same to the next generation of athletes who are inspired to play the game: If there’s something that you love to do, go out and do it. Fall in love with the process and not the results,” James added. “That’s the number one key to me, and I always try to instill that in anyone who’s inspired by what I do or needs words of encouragement about how to reach their goals.”
Los Angeles Laker LeBron James and his wife Savannah James sit court side at the McDonald’s All American game during the first half at Toyota Center.
Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports
Following his first appearance in China in 2005, he has ended up returning to the country 13 times over the next 14 years and as the game continues to grow across Asia, he has been a key contributor to giving back and inspiring the next generation of basketball players worldwide.
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Cole Sullivan