Basketball legend LeBron James has sparked furious speculation about his future with the L.A. Lakers—and his position in the NBA—after the team was knocked out of 2026 championship contention by the Oklahoma City Thunder this week.

James, 41, has achieved many NBA firsts during his time with the team: He and his son Bronny made history as the first father-son duo to play together in 2024, one year before the sporting superstar became the first 40-year-old in the league to score 21 points in a single game.

Yet for all the incredible milestones the athlete has celebrated throughout his career and the fact that he is still one of the more talented players in the NBA, questions are still being asked about whether he will continue to play professionally after this season. And, if he does, which team he will commit to.

Following the May 11 loss to the Thunder, James was quick to make clear that he has yet to decide one way or another what his future holds.

“You guys asked me about it, and I’ve answered questions,” he told reporters at a press conference after the game.

“Yeah, I don’t think I’ve come out as, like, ‘Oh, retirement is coming.’ With my future, I don’t know, obviously. I mean, obviously, we’re still fresh from losing. I mean, I don’t know what the future holds for me. As it stands right now, tonight, I got a lot of time.”

According to the New York Post, oddsmakers are betting big on James returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the team with which he made his NBA debut in 2003. If, that is, he decides to leave the Lakers.

Interestingly, though he left the team for a second time in 2018, when he joined the Los Angeles–based squad, James has never fully cut ties with Cleveland, retaining a house in his hometown of Akron, OH, which is just 45 minutes away from the Cavaliers’ stadium.

Basketball legend LeBron James has sparked furious speculation about his future with the L.A. Lakers—and his position in the NBA—after the team was knocked out of 2026 championship contention by the Oklahoma City Thunder this week.Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty ImagesBut he has already committed $37 million to remaining in California for the long term. He spent that amount on a huge Beverly Hills parcel in 2023 and has spent the past three years waiting for his custom mansion to be completed. thisischriswhite.com

James purchased the property for $2.1 million in 2003, the year of his NBA draft, and proceeded to demolish the existing mansion to make way for a custom abode that is now estimated to be worth well over $10 million.

In other words, the sprawling property would offer more than enough luxury for the sporting star should he decide to return to his home state.

However, leaving Los Angeles would also mean walking away—at least temporarily—from his $37 million real estate investment in California: an extraordinary custom Beverly Hills mansion that he has spent the past several years constructing.

James bought the massive 2.72-acre hilltop parcel for a whopping $36.8 million in 2020. Then he razed the existing home—a Mediterranean-style dwelling that had been built in 1934—to clear the way for a massive modern estate that has been under construction for nearly three years.

Previous images obtained exclusively by Realtor.com® revealed the evolution of the sporting star’s opulent abode, which he began building late in 2023 and which will feature multiple structures when it is completed.

Planning applications seen by Realtor.com reveal that James received permission to turn the original 2.72-acre parcel into two separate plots, each of which will be home to its own jaw-dropping mansion.

The two residences will share a communal driveway, which will be secured by a private guardhouse stationed at the entryway—and each will be given a new address.

According to planning documents, the larger of the two homes will span close to 16,000 square feet across two stories, and will include a 7,700-square-foot basement garage. There will also be a two-level garage built on the ground level.

That larger dwelling will feature a pool in the backyard, as well as a spa.

Other extraordinary amenities being installed at the home include an outdoor kitchen and solar panels, which will ensure the property can be powered even in the event of a grid outage.

James, 41, has achieved multiple NBA firsts during his time with the team: He and his son Bronny made history as the first father-son duo to play together in 2024.Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty ImagesFollowing the May 11 loss to the Thunder, James was quick to make clear that he has yet to decide one way or another what his future holds.Luke Hales/Getty Images

Meanwhile, the second dwelling will be a 6,550-square-foot single-story abode that will boast a basement home theater, an entertaining area, and a ground-level two-car garage.

That property will feature a sizable terrace that will take full advantage of the awe-inspiring vistas.

Wellness has also been factored into the second dwelling, which will be equipped with hot and cold-plunge pools, as well as a spacious courtyard in which palm trees have already been planted.

The two homes, although located on separated “irregularly shaped” parcels, according to the planning documents, will share a common outdoor space that features a huge water feature at the center of a large motor court.

They will also be protected by a 209-square-foot guardhouse, which will be stationed at the start of the lengthy driveway—while an intricate alarm system and 10-foot-high perimeter fencing add to the extensive security measures being taken to protect the compound.

James has enlisted a team of industry experts to complete the project—including luxury planning pros Crest Real Estate and renowned architecture firm Walker Workshop, which has been responsible for designing some of Los Angeles’ most luxurious and cutting-edge residential properties.

While it was originally reported that the estate would serve as the primary residence for James, his wife, Savannah, and their children, it may well be that his decision to build a second home on the property means that he is planning to offer it to his elder son, Bronny.

Construction on the dwelling appears to have come a long way since 2023, but there is still work to be done before the James family can fully move into their new custom manse—which begs the question, will the Lakers legend still be based in California when that time comes?

James’ most recent contract with the Lakers, which expired at the end of this season, saw him earning $56.2 million, the highest of any player on the team. However, experts are aligned in predicting that he may have to take a pay cut should he remain in the NBA for another year.

According to ESPN, James has made clear that he is still weighing his options, revealing after the Thunder game that he plans to “recalibrate with my family and talk with them, and spend some time with them” before he makes a final decision about his future.