WASHINGTON -- Four-time NBA Most Valuable Player LeBron James may participate in the US men's basketball team at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, but says he will not take part in this year's World Cup in China.
The Los Angeles Lakers forward told US media that he will begin making the movie Space Jam 2 during this off-season, adding that how he feels after next season will determine his chances of participating in the Tokyo Olympics.
"That's a possibility," James said. "It depends on how I feel. I love the Olympics."
This season marks the end of an eight-year run of appearances at the NBA Finals for James.
The 34-year-old has been crowned NBA champion three times, twice with the Miami Heat and once with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
For the first time since 2005, James will miss the playoffs and plans to fit in extra training during his long summer break.
"I've had basically the same off-season training regimen during the last eight years," said James, who says he is figuring out how to get as much as he can out of two months' extra training time.
"It requires a totally different strategy. We're looking at it in an entirely new way," he added.
This year's FIBA World Cup in China is set to open on August 31, meaning James would miss the competition if he plans to spend his summer filming and training.
James averaged 27.4 points, 8.5 rebounds and 8.3 assists this NBA season, overtaking Michael Jordan to sit fourth on the all-time NBA scoring list. (Xinhua)
