LeBron James said he will take time to consider his future after the Los Angeles Lakers was swept out of the NBA playoffs by Oklahoma City on Monday in what could turn out to be the final game of his career.
James, 41, delivered a typically defiant performance with 24 points and 12 rebounds but it was not enough to prevent the Lakers from falling 110-115 as the Thunder completed a 4-0 sweep in the Western Conference semifinals series.
The four-time NBA champion is now out of contract with the Lakers and will head into the off season as a free agent with uncertainty swirling around his future.
“I don’t know what the future holds for me,” James said.
“Obviously as it stands right now, tonight, I’ve got a lot of time. I’ll go back and recalibrate with my family and talk with them, and spend some time with them, and then when the time comes, obviously you guys will know what I decide to do.”
James said whether he continues could hinge on whether he felt committed to the grind of playing at the highest level.
“I think for me, it’s about the process -- you know, if 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.”
Whatever James decides, the veteran feels that he has nothing left to prove after a career that has included a plethora of milestones and records that may never be broken.
“There’s nothing I need to show in this league,” James said.
“I’ve done it all, I’ve seen it all. So you know, just trying to compete and trying to win championships, I think that’s a motivating factor.”
Published on May 12, 2026