In the wake of a Game 5 loss to Minnesota on Wednesday night that brought the Lakers‘ season to an end, star forward LeBron James expressed uncertainty when asked about his future and how much longer he plans to continue playing, as Dave McMenamin of ESPN relays.
“I don’t know,” James said. “I don’t have an answer to that. Something I’ll sit down with my family, my wife and my support group and kind of just talk through it and see what happens. And just have a conversation with myself on how long I want to continue to play. I don’t know the answer to that right now, to be honest. So we’ll see.”
James holds a player option for 2025/26 worth approximately $52.6MM. Discussing what next season’s Lakers roster might look like, he said he’ll have “a lot to think about myself.” The four-time MVP subsequently clarified that any uncertainty he’s feeling is about how far off his retirement might be — not whether he wants to remain in Los Angeles.
“Just continuing to play, I don’t know where I’m at,” James told ESPN. “That’s what that is. Not coming back to play here. Just playing, period.”
James isn’t the only Laker facing a big contract-related decision who wasn’t ready to make any definitive statements immediately after the team’s season came to an end. Star point guard Luka Doncic, who will become fully extension-eligible on August 2, said he’s “really glad” to be in L.A. (Twitter video link via Michael Scotto of HoopsHype), but will need some time to consider his contract options.
Forward Dorian Finney-Smith, a midseason acquisition who helped stabilize the Lakers’ defense, will have to make a decision on a $15.4MM player option this offseason. Finney-Smith said he hasn’t thought about that option yet, per Jovan Buha of The Athletic (Twitter link).
Even if the Lakers work out new deals with James, Doncic, and Finney-Smith this summer, the roster has a glaring hole in the middle that will need to be addressed in the coming months.
Head coach J.J. Redick moved Finney-Smith into his starting lineup in Game 5 ahead of big man Jaxson Hayes, who was a DNP-CD, and the Lakers played most of the night without a real center. Maxi Kleber made his Lakers debut coming off foot surgery, but saw just five minutes of action.
The Timberwolves capitalized in a major way on the Lakers’ lack of frontcourt size, making 20-of-22 (90.9%) of their shots in the restricted area, according to Jack Borman of Locked on Sports Minnesota (Twitter link).
Los Angeles was also out-rebounded by a 54-37 margin. Rudy Gobert grabbed 24 rebounds on his own, and his nine offensive boards were more than the eight collected by the Lakers’ entire team. That rebounding disparity helped the Wolves attempt 11 more field goals and eight more free throws than L.A.
The Lakers reached an agreement prior to February’s trade deadline to acquire third-year center Mark Williams from Charlotte, but they ultimately opted to void that trade due to concerns about Williams’ physical. Shortly after Los Angeles was eliminated from the postseason on Wednesday night, the Hornets big man published a tweet consisting of just a single character: a smiley-face emoji.
Asked after Wednesday’s game whether playing centerless basketball so frequently caught up with the Lakers, James jokingly refused to comment (Twitter video link via HoopsHype).
“My guy A.D. said what he needed, and he was gone the following week. So I got no comment,” James said with a smile, per Dan Woike of The Los Angeles Times. “With that uniform on every night, I gave everything I had. And that’s all that matters.”
I would be shocked if James passes up 52.6mil for next year. Before people say he doesn’t need the money, the dude doesn’t play for free.
You are right. He doesn’t need the money. He has other ways of making money.
Goodbye, and take KD with you.
I’m sure they both have two more years in them. That’s a lot of money to take with them into the sunset of their lives. Two more years is $100 million or more each.
I’m sure this will be a prolonged publicity stunt that lasts most of the offseason with all of us NBA fans waiting on pins and needles to find out his decision.
It is only a publicity stunt because you will not stop talking about it. Why wait on pins and needles for it? There are plenty of other things going on. The draft, summer leagues, free agency, training camps are far more interesting.
“I” will not be on pins and needles. I predict that media outlets like ESPN and others will make it seems that way.
Guess what. They have 24 hours a day of program to fill up. How many channels do they have now?
Terrible management. AD says we need another big. They respond by trading a big.
The team as currently constructed is barely a play-in team.
Enjoy maxing out Luka and getting the next Embiid.
Lakers clearly have a coaching problem. Redick’s unwillingness to make adjustments to his failing game plans the last 2 games in particular is what accelerated the Lakers early exit… not that they would have beaten the TWs anyway, but how do you lose a playoff game with Rudy Gobert leading the other team in scoring??!
And LBJ isn’t going anywhere.
Reddick playing the first team for the whole 2nd half of game 4 was amateurish. Let the back-ups squander the 10-point lead to begin the 4th quarter, so you can give Lebron and Luka a rest before the pivotal last minutes of the game. Ironically, the gassed starters blew the lead anyway….
Lakers hoodwinked & bamboozled the nba with luka
But the basketball gods said hell no! What an embarrassing turn of events . Thats been mostly lebrons career. Occasionally W when teamed up with other superstars, usually L in humiliating fashion
Does he have any more sons he wants to force lakers to draft?
The whole industry was consumed by the Mavs handing the Lakers a title on a silver platter. Luka may a very good player, but last I checked he has no rings yet but Anthony Davis does. It’s certainly not clear yet that Luka has what it takes to win it all.
The whole industry was consumed by the Luka trade? That is gross overstatement. I’m sure FO had better things to do than worry about one trade.
It’s still discussed 24/7 on the nba channel on XM and its all the nba media have talked about since February. It’s not an overstatement.
Huh? The Lakers didn’t go after Luka. Harrison went to the Lakers. Who was bamboozled? Most of the NBA had nothing to do with it. Umm…The Warriors were thinking about drafting Bronny. Bronny actually had a good season.
“Bronby had good season”
R u on crack
Serious Q
He avg 2 pts, shot 30%
He makes g leaguers look like larry bird
He was drafted at #55. He was expected to spend most of his time in the GLeague. His numbers in the GLeague were pretty good. You can look them up.
Both LBJ and Luka were and continued to get banged up by getting bullied by the Wolves. They need a center and an enforcer who will alleviate some of the physicality and actually fight back. Divenxenzo should’ve been punched in the mouth for body checking LBJ, but not even a whistle was called. The Lakers need someone who will handle what the refs won’t and free up their stars to ball.
Not a Lebron fan but Lebron will play for the Lakers in 25-26, Luka will get his new contract, these are givens. The major problem is that the Lakers are a no defense no rebounding team as it is right now especially with Luka now it was exposed by Minnesota. With Lebron in his 40’s and Luka with his only way to play is offense, the Lakers will have to fill out the roster with players capable to rebound, play head up defense with a little scoring to cover for Luka out of shape and no defense and Lebron taking plays on defense off in 25-26.
LeBron will play til he rips his Achilles. He just uses these media questions for more publicity. Otherwise, he would fade into the background again playing on another non-contender….
What a dumb question. LeBron is one of the greatest players ever and is focused on the playoffs. There is no time to also be considering his future career. Those are distractions he is wise enough to ignore until the season is over. And not 5 minutes after…more click bait tiktok garbage. Makes me sick
While still a terrible trade, watching Luka loaf on defense, limp up and down the court at times and just look 10 years older than he should, I’m not convinced he’s the best long term asset.
Imagine privately many of Luka’s teammates don’t like being on Luka’s team. Terrible defensive player, many bad shots, always complaining to the refs, looks out of shape, etc.
The Mavs could or should have gotten a more in the trade but in the long run the trade will be okay.