INTERNATIONAL: Lebron James said there are no certainties over his future in the NBA, though he is certain about one thing -- he'd like to play his final season alongside his son.

As he prepares to captain Team LeBron against Team [Kevin] Durant in the 71st All-Star Game at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Sunday -- his record-equalling 18th appearance -- James said the "door's not closed" on the third stint in Cleveland.

"I'm not saying I'm coming back and playing, I don't know," James, who is a free agent after next season, told The Athletic on Saturday. "I don't know what my future holds. I don't even know when I'm free."

James was named the league's rookie of the year in 2004 after being drafted as the first overall pick of the draft by the Cavaliers, winning back-to-back Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards in 2009 and 2010 before leaving to join the Miami Heat.

He returned to Cleveland in 2014, subsequently leading the franchise to their first ever championship two years later in yet another MVP winning season. Regardless of whether he returns to Cleveland, James asserted that whenever his final season comes, it will be played alongside his eldest son "whatever it takes."

"My last year will be played with my son," James said. "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."

"I love the game of basketball. I love being a part of the NBA and being able to, to inspire ... so many different sets of generations," James said after breaking the record. "Along that way, when you're able to accomplish things individually then, at some point I guess have an opportunity to kind of sit back and think about it."