Discussing his future on the latest episode of the Mind the Game podcast with co-host Steve Nash (YouTube link), Lakers forward LeBron James said he’ll need to take some time before he decides whether or not to continue his career and what the 2026/27 season might hold for him.
“I haven’t even really thought about it too much,” James said, per Khobi Price of The California Post. “Obviously, I understand that I’m a free agent and I can control my own destiny — being here with (the Lakers) for a foreseeable future or if it’s going somewhere else. But like, I haven’t even really even got to that point. I haven’t even taken my family vacation yet, which is going to happen after Memorial Day. That’s kind of the thing at the forefront of my mind.
“But, I think at some point in June, late June, as July rolls around, free agency starts to get going and as July rolls around and maybe into August, we start to kind of get a feel of what my future may look like. If it’s continuing to play the game that I love, which I know I can still give so much to the game and play at a high level, or if it’s not. But I have not gotten to that point yet.”
As Dave McMenamin of ESPN writes, James also addressed Los Angeles’ second-round loss to the Thunder during his discussion with Nash, suggesting that the Lakers – going up against the defending champions without top scorer Luka Doncic – were simply facing a talent deficit.
“We were not outworked, they didn’t out-physical us, they didn’t outsmart us,” LeBron said. “I feel like we were just out-talented by OKC. … At the end of the day, we failed in talent. OKC just possessed so much more talent than us. You can tip your cap to them, obviously, in understanding that. But you can’t get caught up in that, especially when you know you were undermanned.”
Here’s more on the Lakers:
- In an interesting story for Yahoo Sports, Yaron Weitzman examines how new Lakers owner Mark Walter has tasked the same two executives – Andrew Friedman and Farhan Zaidi – who helped turn the Los Angeles Dodgers’ front office into one of MLB’s most sophisticated and successful operations to follow a similar blueprint with the Lakers. While Rob Pelinka and Kurt Rambis have led the search for a pair of new assistant general managers, Friedman and Zaidi have also been involved, Weitzman says, with at least one of them sitting in on most interviews.
- There has been some speculation about the involvement of Friedman and Zaidi leading to the Lakers replacing Pelinka as their head of basketball operations, but that’s not currently the plan, according to Weitzman, who notes that Pelinka is the one leading discussions with player agents in contract discussions and has told people he’s working “in collaboration” with the Dodgers execs.
- The Lakers offered Timberwolves assistant GM Steve Senior an executive VP of basketball operations role, but Senior opted to remain in Minnesota, multiple league sources tell Weitzman.
- Yossi Gozlan of The Third Apron (Substack link) takes a closer look at the Lakers’ upcoming offseason, explaining what the team could do with its projected cap room and exploring what sort of contracts their free agents might get. Gozlan projects a deal in the neighborhood of $35-40MM per year for Austin Reaves and believes Rui Hachimura could receive a salary in the range of the full non-taxpayer mid-level exception ($15MM+).
Do you really think someone with his ego will walk without a “farewell” tour?
Only way LeBron doesn’t come back next year if something world shattering happens in his world. Other than that a 99% chance he plays next year.
No. Similar to Aaron Rodgers announcing this is his last year, these guys want that adoration
You mistake confidence for ego and IMO if you have been the face of the NBA for the last 2 decades you deserve a farewell tour.
Can you list the successful NBA players without “egos”? I’ll wait.
LeUnc is known for being an insufferable narcissist, that’s way above the level of just having an ego. He’s been the face of a league that’s been freefalling into further obscurity with flopping everywhere, refs deciding games blatantly, constant whining, and superteams with 0 player loyalty. Yeah, he’s the face of the league alright!
You seem awfully invested in a league you hate so much lol
Lil D – Current? Probably none. Past? Dave DeBusschere, John Havlicek, Lenny Wilkens, Nate Thurmond, Dave Bing, Bobby Jones, Bill Bridges, Jo Jo White, Phil Chenier. I can do this all night.
They may not had been cocky but every single one you listed had an ego.
Jojo white? Bill Bridges? Phil Chenier ? Dave Debusschere ? Bobby Jones??? All nice players but hardly entitled to a ego or mention .
Say what you want about Pelinka, but he’s the reason Luka is a Laker. Nico only talked to Pelinka about trading Luka
Luka was handed to him. It wasn’t Pelinka. That title team, majority of that roster was built with magic running the show. LeBron came because of magic. Ad came because of Paul and LeBron. It was t pelinka. Pelinka has built play in rosters and first round loss rosters. He is a terrible talent evaluator and has let assets walk for nothing. Luka got smart and ayton to join team. Pelinka got la Ravia. Pelinka isn’t good at all
Pelinka chose Horton Tucker over Caruso. He gave up Zubac and Randle for nothing. He picked Russell with the second pick. Yes, the family was involved and Magic, but he was supposed to be the final decision maker.
Nico wanted AD. Yes, he had a relationship with Pelinka and trusted him not to let out the deal, but what GM would have let out this deal and let someone else come in to get Luka!?
Picking up the phone and the guy there side losing their mind doesn’t make him a great FM!
What most GMs and NBA people couldn’t believe was how Nico didn’t try and get better offers from other teams. Its like he had a man crush on AD and just wanted him and nobody else.
Arc, that blew my mind. Nico could have started a bidding war. He was fixated on AD.
I hear you, Johnny. I’m still pissed about that Caruso deal. Same with Zubac. Mike Muscala??? Geez.
For added context, apparently the Minnesota exec wanted to know if he was a Pelinka hire (and tied to his fate) or if he was moreso being offered the job by the new regime. When he couldn’t get clarification that he wasn’t tied to Pelinka, he declined. According to sources
There’s no July or August you make your call by end June like everyone else so teams have time to plan accordingly
Nobodies holding cap space or exception money hostage days let alone weeks/months
My main criticism of Lbj has always been his unwillingness to work with front offices as a solid unified unit moreso as a consultant with a powerful hand – 2 very different ideologies not even mentioning lebrons wants over the years Westbrook DDR Klay LaVine have been absurd much like Jordan’s and Magics as GMs
As a basketball player LeBron is the best of all time.
As a person he’s on the same level as Aaron Rodgers. The world will be better when both of them are long gone
Aaron Rodgers may be a POS, but what has LeBron done? They’re both just athletes though, the world will not be any better when either is gone.
Jordan will always live rent free in LeMickey’s head. The only thing he has over the true GOAT is longevity. By the way, the whole “Jordan vs Bron” debate was completely manufactured by the media. He’s a top 10 player at best. Steph is a better all-time player, even. The debate should be Jordan or Kobe.
Personally I don’t think you can compare players across eras and the whole GOAT debate is dumb. They’re definitely levels to it though and Kobe was never on the same level as LeBron, Jordan, Kareem, Magic and Bird.
I agree when it comes to comparing statistics such as PPG since the rules of the league have changed so much over each decade, especially with how defense is effectively illegal now. The whole comparison is just something used to prop up LeDiddy’s cumulative stats. I’m just saying if anyone wants to make the argument about the greatest of all time, he’s got 0 reason (besides media narratives) to be involved in it.
I’m not sure who LeDiddy is but as we were talking about LeBron I’ll go with his claim.
He’s an elite scorer.
He’s an elite playmaker.
He a great rebounder.
Early in his career he could also anchor a defense.
He carried teams to 10 finals appearances and won titles as the main offensive engine of three different franchises.
Jordan was one of greats but media narrative had a lot to do with his aura as well.
LeBron is rent free in your head and as far as the most dominant player to ever wear a NBA uniform no question it’s the Stilt, the Big Dipper or in case you never heard of him, Wilt Chamberlain. I believe they actually changed, offensive goaltending because of the stilt, defensive goaltending because of the dipper, how about we widen the lane because of Wilt. I think the only rule the NBA changed because of Jordan was something to do with gambling and golf.
Give me a break Wilt played against guys 6-8 inches shorter than him that had offseason jobs. He was 1-7 in playoff series against Bill Russell who was the only actual competition for him.
Laughable
I think you mean factual
I mean Wilt Chamberlain would have dominated in any era and with that you are dismissed.
Well, if the Lakers do sign LBJ without him taking a pay cut, and also resign Reaves to a new contract with a big raise I don’t see the Lakers making alot of moves to boost this team ahead of Minnesota and definitely not in the San Antonio and OKC universe without hitting the NBA tax on the salary cap.
Baba Miller could be a unicorn in the 2026 draft
Sounds like LBJ is going to pick his best option for a title…
He’s looking at a big pay cut by waiting that long as well…