LOS ANGELES — Following the Los Angeles Lakers’ 115-110 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night, LeBron James said he has yet to decide whether he’ll return for a 24th NBA season and will take time to consider his options.
“I don’t know what the future holds for me, obviously,” James said. “As it stands right now, I got a lot of time to sit back. Like I said last year after we lost to Minnesota, I’ll go back, recalibrate with my family, talk with them, spend some time with them. When the time comes, obviously, you guys will know what I decide to do.”
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Should the 41-year-old retire, it will mark the end of an unmatched career that includes four NBA championships, four Most Valuable Player awards and an extensive list of records — most notably, the most points scored in a career.
James and the Lakers were swept in the second round of the Western Conference playoffs, marking the fourth 4-0 series defeat of James’ career and second since joining the Lakers.
In Year 23, James averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists while missing just eight games after sitting out the first 14 of the season with sciatic nerve irritation. He led the Lakers to a first-round victory over the Houston Rockets while playing the first four games without Austin Reaves and the entire round without Luka Dončić.
Against the Thunder, James averaged 23.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game. He scored 24 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in the Game 4 defeat.
James finished the Rockets series with 28 points, seven rebounds and eight assists in Game 6, with the Lakers outscoring Houston by 26 points when he was on the court.
“To me, he’s had the greatest career of any NBA player. You can argue all you want, and I really don’t care to postulate on who’s the greatest of all time, but he’s one of, if not the greatest of all time,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said after that game. “And for him to do it again and answer the bell again, it’s really, it’s baffling in some ways. The leadership aspect that I talked about, he just has this ability to set the tone for the entire group. And he did that again tonight and our guys responded. I’m really happy for him.”
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Throughout the season, James has spoken about staying “in the moment” while setting records for most games played and most made field goals. He also said sharing the court with his son and teammate, Bronny James, ranked among the greatest achievements in his career.
His message on Monday echoed statements he’s made during the season when asked about his future.
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“I want to live. When I know, you guys will know,” he said during All-Star Weekend. “I don’t know. I have no idea. I just want to live, that’s all.”
If James continues to play, he will become a free agent. The Lakers, Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers could all be possible landing spots, though a return to the Lakers has gained momentum over the past year, according to team and league sources.
Still, there are questions about the salary James could command as a free agent. In each season of his career so far, James has made more money than the last. That streak will almost certainly end if he signs a new contract. He made $52.6 million this season.