The Los Angeles Lakers' season ended with Monday's 108-106 loss to the Denver Nuggets, and attention naturally turned to LeBron James' future since he has a player option for the 2024-25 campaign.
But the King isn't ready to make a decision.
As James said Tuesday, he is not sure what the future holds and is instead concerned with spending time with his family and friends following the season:
LeBron James @KingJameswell as my representation about it then you guys will know. Until then š¤«. Love š
James was asked about his future after the Game 5 loss to the Nuggets and told reporters, "I don't have an answer … to be honest. I haven't given it much thought."
He also said "I'm not going to answer that" when asked if this was his final season on the Lakers.
There are plenty of options in play for James.
For one, he could simply exercise the option and return to the Purple and Gold with the hopes of improving on this season's first-round exit. Or he could choose to decline it and hit free agency, where he could then either sign with another contender or even join a team that drafts his son, Bronny James.
Yet ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Tuesday that conversations with agent Rich Paul suggested "that the idea of them playing together is not a priority; it's not foremost, at least any longer, in LeBron James' mind."
There is also the reality that the future Hall of Famer turns 40 years old in December and just finished his 21st season.
Perhaps retirement will be an option, although Paul appeared on SiriusXM NBA Radio and said he believes James has "two-to-three years left" in his career.
And who can argue with the legend continuing to play considering he was still among the best players in the league this season while averaging 25.7 points, 8.3 assists, 7.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 54 percent from the field and 41 percent from deep in 2023-24.
He was still the best player on the floor for extended stretches during Monday's game against the Nuggets and came up just short because Jamal Murray—who also won Game 2 with a buzzer beater—hit a winning jumper in the final seconds.
It remains to be seen whether James will run things back with the Lakers next season, but he might get a third chance at Denver in the postseason if he does.
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