{"id":790723,"date":"2026-05-12T09:08:31","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T09:08:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/790723\/"},"modified":"2026-05-12T09:08:31","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T09:08:31","slug":"lebron-james-unsure-if-hell-return-for-24th-season-or-retire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/790723\/","title":{"rendered":"LeBron James unsure if he’ll return for 24th season or retire"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As LeBron James<\/a> sat at the podium following the Lakers\u2019 season-ending loss<\/a> to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals on Monday night, he was asked about his future.<\/p>\n

He had just completed his 23rd season in the NBA at 41 years old and he will become a free agent this summer.<\/p>\n

James has been asked about retirement all season \u2014 and if he would return to the Lakers<\/a> next season or play for another team.<\/p>\n

So after finishing with 24 points and 12 rebounds in the 115-110 loss<\/a>, James addressed the situation again.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith my future, I don\u2019t know, honestly,\u201d James said. \u201cIt\u2019s still fresh from obviously losing. And I don\u2019t know. I don\u2019t know what the future holds for me, obviously. As it stands right now, tonight, I got a lot of time. I\u2019ll sit back, like I think I said last year after we lost, I think to Minnesota, to go back and recalibrate with my family and talk with them, and spend some time with them. And then when the time comes, then obviously you guys will know what I\u2019ve decided to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

James said he\u2019ll talk to his wife, Savannah, his daughter, Zhuri, and his son, Bryce.<\/p>\n

James was asked what his decision process will be like.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d he said. \u201cIf I can commit to still being in love with the process of showing up to the arena five-and-a-half hours before a game to start preparing for a game, giving everything I got, diving for loose balls and doing everything that you know that it takes to go out and play. Showing up to practices, 11 o\u2019clock practice, I\u2019m there at eight o\u2019clock preparing my body, preparing my mind, preparing to practice, to put the work in.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo I think for me, I\u2019ve always been in love with the process and not the aftermath of, OK, we won that game, or we won a championship. I\u2019ve always enjoyed the process and not the outcome. So, I think that would be a big factor.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"LeBron <\/p>\n

LeBron James, center, celebrates with his Lakers teammates after defeating the Miami Heat for the NBA title on Oct. 11, 2020.<\/p>\n

(Wally Skalij \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n

James has been with the Lakers for eight seasons. He helped the team win an NBA championship in 2020 in the COVID-19 bubble in Orlando, Fla.<\/p>\n

James was asked what has stood out during his time with the Lakers.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously winning a championship in 2020 would stand at the top,\u201d James said. \u201cThat was the reason why I came here, to restore that level of play and restore this franchise back to what it was known for, winning championships and playing at a high level. … So that would be at the top.\u201d<\/p>\n

After the loss to the Thunder, James shook hands with All-Star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander,<\/a> Alex Caruso<\/a>, Lou Dort<\/a> before walking off the court.<\/p>\n

James was asked if those were the last handshakes of his career.<\/p>\n

\u201cLast handshakes? No, I don\u2019t know. \u2018Cause I don\u2019t, I have no idea,\u201d James said. \u201cNone of us even know what the future holds. None of us.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Lakers know that they could have eight unrestricted free agents in their immediate future.<\/p>\n

After James, the next biggest potential free agent is Austin Reaves<\/a>. He is expected to opt out of his deal that will pay him $14.8 million and become a free agent, according to people familiar with the situation not authorized to comment. The Lakers can pay Reaves a maximum deal of $241 million over five years, with a starting salary of about $41.5 million next season.<\/p>\n

The Lakers value Reaves and are expected to meet his demands. Reaves could sign with another team that has salary-cap space, but that deal would be for four years and about $178 million.<\/p>\n

\u201cI take life day by day and I\u2019m just blessed to have an opportunity to play for this organization, play a kid\u2019s game,\u201d Reaves said. \u201cI make good money. But like I said, don\u2019t think about what I\u2019m really going to do in the future. Just day by day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Center Deandre Ayton<\/a> had an inconsistent season, averaging 12.5 points on 67.1% shooting and 8.0 rebounds. He can opt out of his deal that pays him $8.1 million next season and become a free agent. But Ayton hasn\u2019t yet made a decision, according to people familiar with the situation not authorized to comment.<\/p>\n

\"Lakers <\/p>\n

Lakers star Austin Reaves celebrates after shooting a three-pointer against the Thunder on Monday.<\/p>\n

(Robert Gauthier \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n

Marcus Smart<\/a>, a locker room leader and their best defensive player, also has a player option for next season at $5.3 million. He hasn\u2019t made a decision yet on whether he\u2019ll test the free-agent market. According to several NBA executives, a few teams probably will show interest in him.<\/p>\n

The deadline to exercise or decline an option is June 29.<\/p>\n

Rui Hachimura\u2019s ($18.2 million), Luke Kennard ($11 million), Maxi Kleber ($11 million) and Jaxson Hayes ($3.4 million) are also in the final year of their deals.<\/p>\n

Doncic, who missed the playoffs and the last five games of the regular season with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain, signed a three-year, $165-million extension last summer, keeping him under contract through the 2027-28 season.<\/p>\n

Jarred Vanderbilt ($12.4 million), Jake LaRavia ($6.0 million), Dalton Knecht (4.2 million), Bronny James ($2.2 million) and rookie Adou Thiero ($2.1 million) are under contract for next season.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"As LeBron James sat at the podium following the Lakers\u2019 season-ending loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":790724,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5123],"tags":[322916,17378,1582,276,1441,3853,31301,19835,1910,8601,2961,8604,322915,322917,224,5337,322918,3007,6620,1628],"class_list":{"0":"post-790723","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-los-angeles","8":"tag-23rd-season","9":"tag-austin-reaves","10":"tag-ca","11":"tag-california","12":"tag-championship","13":"tag-deal","14":"tag-free-agent","15":"tag-future","16":"tag-game","17":"tag-james","18":"tag-la","19":"tag-lakers","20":"tag-lakers-next-season","21":"tag-life-day","22":"tag-los-angeles","23":"tag-losangeles","24":"tag-season-ending-loss","25":"tag-team","26":"tag-time","27":"tag-year"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/116560822907057470","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/790723","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=790723"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/790723\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/790724"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=790723"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=790723"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=790723"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}