LeBron James, 39, drops huge retirement hint after his 40-piece in Lakers win over Nets

LeBron James would only hint at how long he still expects to keep on playing in the NBA after his 40-point display against the Brooklyn Nets, as he admitted to being on the 'other side of the hill' and not having much time left in the league.

Speaking to reporters after tying his career-high amount of three pointers made (9) in game since being drafted 21 years ago on Sunday, James remain tight-lipped over when will be the right time to say goodbye to the association that he has been a part of since 2003.

'Not very long, I'm not going to play another 21 years, that's for damn sure,' he said after knocking all but one shot from behind the arc. 'I don't know when that door will close, but I don't have much time left.'

James once again looked like an ageless wonder as he played is 1,485th career game and matched his season high to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 116-104 victory over the Nets on Easter.

James had the sellout crowd at Barclays Center standing on its feet as he put the finishing touches on his 3-point shooting display in the fourth quarter. He reached 40 points for the third time this season, most recently on March 16 in a home loss to Golden State.

The Lakers have won five of six since then, and this victory moved them a season-high nine games over .500 with seven games remaining in the regular season. Los Angeles remained ninth in the Western Conference, but the Lakers could catch the Sacramento Kings for eighth or the Phoenix Suns for seventh in the West, taking them out of the single-elimination No. 9 vs. No. 10 play-in game. 

If James has another game like this in the postseason, just about anything is possible for the NBA´s career scoring leader who continues to amaze at age 39. 

The 20-time All Star finished 13 for 17 overall as the Lakers played the fourth game of a six-game road trip and rebounded from a loss Friday night at Indiana that snapped their five-game winning streak.

'I put in a lot of time working on my craft,' James said.

Anthony Davis added 24 points and 14 rebounds, and Rui Hachimura had 20 points and 10 rebounds in a game the Lakers led by 20 in the first quarter and controlled throughout. Brooklyn got its deficit inside double digits just once in the second half.

Cam Thomas led the Nets with 30 points, trying to rally them after their dismal start.

'But can't do nothing when somebody hits 9 for 10 from 3,' Thomas said. 'Made every 3 he put up so it's tough, but I feel like we played really well second through the fourth. It was just the first quarter was pretty tough on us, starting off that slow.'

The Lakers got 114 of their 116 points from their starters.

James also made nine 3-pointers January 24, 2023, against the Clippers, shooting 9 for 14. His 90 percent accuracy was the second-best of his career in games in which he made at least five 3-pointers, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. He was 5 for 5 against Oklahoma City on December 23 of this season.

Up next for the Lakers: the Toronto Raptors on Easter Monday.