The NBA rumor mill often has a way of ratcheting up pressure.

Whether it's trade talks, coaches being on the hot seat or discontent within a franchise, a lot of basketball-related whispers can bring unwanted attention to a locker room.

The latest buzz around the Los Angeles Lakers is different, though. If it sparks anything within the locker room, it'll be victory laps.

That's because the latest word around the Lakers, courtesy of ESPN's Shams Charania on the Pat McAfee Show (h/t Lakers Nation), is that 39-year-old megastar LeBron James might not be as close to retirement as most people might think.

"I said on this show I want to say when the [2023-24] season ended, two years at least," Charania said. "Could he go three? Potentially, but when you think about two years that's this season and next season."

While this is merely a rumor, it still feels like the ultimate stress relief for this squad.

Talks of retirement have swirled around James for years now. There were certainly reasons to wonder whether this might be his last go-round.

When he signed his latest contract this summer, it only included one guaranteed season (with a $52.6 million player option for next season, per Spotrac). And given the fact he'll spend this campaign alongside his son, Bronny James, you wondered whether James might make history as the league's first father-son tandem and then ride off into the proverbial sunset.

It's not like there can be much left on his to-do list. He's already the league's all-time leader in points, All-NBA selections and minutes (including the playoffs). He is a four-time MVP, a four-time champion and a three-time Olympic gold medalist. He's also one of a handful of players (at the absolute most) who is a realistic answer to the age-old GOAT debate.

If his magical ride came to an end after this campaign, it'd be hard to react in any other way than being thankful we were able to witness the journey.

As for the Lakers, though, losing James would mean losing their status as championship contenders. Sure, they might not considered the favorites, but it's always easy to argue they have a puncher's chance in any series because of the James-Anthony Davis connection.

Drop James from that equation, and you've just derailed L.A.'s title hopes. That's why this team has operated (and currently operates) on one of the Association's most extreme win-right-now timeframes.

To be clear, this latest rumor doesn't totally change that. Even if James has plans of playing past this season, the Lakers can't act like this is the case. His game might appear ageless, but Father Time will track him down at some point. L.A. is in no position to take anything for granted.

This does, however, suggest this isn't an all-or-nothing kind of campaign. Regardless what happens with these season's Lakers, next season's club could be pretty darn good, too. And maybe the same will ring true for the following campaign, too.

That's big. It's big for JJ Redick, who entered the ultimate pressure cooker by opening his coaching career as the steward of James' age-40 season. It's big for the young players on this roster, who could get extra opportunities for learn everything James has to teach. It's big for Davis, who faced the prospect of being a solitary star after this season.

And it's objectively awesome for the basketball world, extending the window through which we can watch one of the greatest careers this game has ever seen.

L.A. appeared like a force to be reckoned with during its opening night takedown of a Minnesota Timberwolves team that won 56 games and grabbed the West's No. 3 seed last season. It turns out, that force may not be going away any time soon.