Speaking to reporters after his Lakers were eliminated from the postseason by the defending champion Thunder on Monday night, star forward LeBron James wasn’t ready to discuss his next steps, as Dave McMenamin of ESPN relays.
“I think you guys asked me about (retirement), and I’ve answered questions. I don’t think I’ve come out and been like, ‘Oh, retirement is coming,'” James said. “With my future, I don’t know, honestly. It’s, obviously it’s still fresh from, obviously losing (the series). And I don’t know. I don’t know what the future holds for me.”
James, who turned 41 during the 2025/26 season, became the first NBA player to spend 23 years in the league. And while his season debut was delayed due to sciatica, he continued to perform at a high level upon returning, averaging 20.9 points, 7.2 assists, and 6.1 rebounds in 33.2 minutes per game across 60 outings.
While retirement is one possibility for the four-time MVP, a handful of players from both the Lakers and Thunder, including LeBron’s son and teammate Bronny James, observed on Monday that he looks like he still has plenty left in the tank.
“I have no clue,” Bronny said when asked about his father’s future. “I’m not going to lie to you. He looks like he can play another however many years, but he’s been in league for longer than he’s been out of league. It’s insane. I think he should think about it, and whatever he feels happy with, do that.”
Determining whether or not to continue his career is just the first of two major decisions for LeBron. If he wants to keep playing, he’ll also have to figure out which team he’ll do so for.
James has been with the Lakers since 2018 and has shown no desire to leave Los Angeles, but he’s not under contract for the 2026/27 season and L.A. is pivoting toward building its roster around its new centerpiece, Luka Doncic.
Lakers management has expressed repeatedly that it would like to see James finish his career with the organization, but if he decides he wants a change of scenery, there will likely be plenty of teams with interest. There has been speculation about the possibility of him returning to Cleveland for a third stint with the Cavaliers or teaming up with Stephen Curry in Golden State, among other scenarios.
For his part, James said that he wants to “recalibrate with my family and talk with them, and spend some time with them” over the next few weeks as he mulls his decision, per McMenamin.
“I think for me it’s about the process,” LeBron said. “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 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’clock practice, I’m there at 8 o’clock preparing my body, preparing my mind, preparing to practice, to put the work in.
“So I think for me, I’ve always been in love with the process … so I think that would be a big factor.”
I know, he is going to magically go back to the Cavs when they don’t win the chip this year in a sign and trade involving Jarrett Allen
Nothing “magical” about that.
If the Knicks don’t get over the hump this year take the minimum go to NY. He will make up the money he’s giving up on the court in sponsorships. He would be the ultimate Swiss Army knife do a little bit of everything but not have to be the primary option for anything either.
Sponsorships? LeBron would be sponsored??
Also, what would be the Knicks starting 5 with LeBron on the team?
Brunson
Bridges
OG
Born
Kat
I’m not super up on the Knicks to be totally honest so if you or other Knicks fans don’t agree or have tweeks I’ll defer to you.
I just see it as a place where he could go and help do a little of everything without being relied on to be the primary ball handler, or primary wing defender.
It’s also a place where he could make up the money he would be giving up in salary through off the court ventures.
All contingent on the Knicks not winning, if the Knicks win the whole thing then he won’t.
He ain’t taking the minimum to go ANYWHERE. Dude does not do anyone favors like that.
I think it depends on how it’s pitched to him. He was willing to take less when the lakers were pursing Klay Thompson a few years ago. If the pitch is we need to you take x amount less because we have these 2/3 moves in mind to bring in players that will help improve the team and make it so we can compete but the only way to get it done is you take less. Well then he would probably be willing to at least listen and entertain the idea but if the pitch is you take less just to save our ownership group some money and we don’t have any moves to improve the team well then he’s obviously not going to go for that.
Taking less and taking the minimum are wildly different things. He took a “discount” with the lakers but it was like what, 55mil a year and not 60?
Overall, Lebron is already a billionaire so NBA salary money isn’t going to move his needle. There’s no difference between $50M and $10M to a billionaire.
Again though I think it all come down to the pitch. If the Knicks convince him he could make up that money it other ways off the court . Possibly even through connections that they have or can introduce him to. Does it really matter if the money comes from his nba salary or from outside sources to him.
He wants 50M a season bro. He needs to feed his family
Just as I predicted before they got swept last night. The very next day the media cycle would turn to the never ending “what will LeBron do next” rumors. I doubt I’m the only one who would like to see him and Aaron Rodgers put in a tube and launched into deep space.
LeBron will go on his love me to death tour enjoying all these teams wanting him to go to their city but in the end I see him resigning with lakers.
When’s the last time you said a guy averaging 21, 7, and 6 should retire?
Everyone knows he is not retiring but what else does sport writers have right now to talk about so they will pretend like Lebron doesn’t know what he is going to do.
It’s not about what he “wants to do” anymore; it’s about whether ANYONE is willing to offer him a contract and if THEY want to bring the circus to their town. I’m hoping new Laker ownership sticks to their guns – it’s not officially Luka’s team until such an attention-craving/polarizing player like LeBron is gone. You can’t win anything relevant anymore with LeBron as your 3, as your 2, and DEFINITELY not your 1. OKC’s defense targeted Austin – HE was the Lakers #1 threat without Luka; not LeBron. LeBron’s playoff record as a Laker (likely) closes out at 32-31 (4-6 this playoffs…..fitting, that 4-6 mark, isn’t it?); and this was the longest stint with a single team for his career! Is that commendable?? LeBron is now 5-15 (FIVE and FIFTEEN) in the playoffs against a defending champion (4 instances: 2016, 2018, 2024, 2026). Is that DOMINANT in the minds of some people?? Is LeBron the FIRST player, among the all-time greats, to get “belt-to-a*s’ed” out of the playoffs in all four rounds within a decade’s span (2017, 2018, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026)?? I’m willing to have a gander at it if no one else is interested in knowing.
Many will offer him a contract just how much is the question. He is still a fan draw so he is profitable
Alright, let’s see which teams it’ll be.
*LeBron’s playoff record against a defending champion……..I missed one: 4-2 vs 2023 Warriors.
So what was originally presented, 5-15, to 9-17 (a little more respectable?). Now he needs just two series sweeps over a defending champion (and no more losses) to get to .500
ANYTHING is possible, you guys. I wouldn’t rule it out just yet – especially if he were to bounce around with a couple more super teams before he retires.
When Davey 2.0 chimes in we will all know what the (Warriors) future will look like with James and Antetokounmpo because that relocation is a slam dunk and will bring another Larry O’Brien Trophy to San Francisco. No further dialogue will be required.
Don’t forget the 2027 is LOADEDDDD with 30-40 good future players.
His words not mine.
SMH its amazing how the sport writers in the bay area keep making things up that the warriors are getting some super star. Why would you trade away all your future picks for 1 year of Giannis? You wouldn’t. Why would the Bucks want Butler in a trade? they wouldn’t. So simple to understand that it will never happen.
Arc, appreciate your non bias analysis as always. I agree trading for Giannis for 1 year is very dangerous. There’s no guarantee he will want to even stay after. I think they should either utilize that 11th pick to move up (possibly offer a 2030/2031) pick and go get someone like Tyler Herro or possibly try to kick start their talks on Zion. Like you previously mentioned, need to get younger and athletic. League is already passed them on both and they need to address both this upcoming offseason.
i think its more of bay area sport writers having nothing to talk about so they make stuff up. A’s left and the Giants are last place team. Sharks and Warriors not in playoffs. Vykes are the only other sport in teh bay area right now. Giannis already said he doesn’t want to play for a west coast team. there is about 10 teams that could make better trade offers than the warriors that want Giannis.
I believe it is down to two scenarios’ for LBJ one is if he goes back to the Lakers, the contract will be somewhat less to play for the Lakers, reason is that the Lakers still have a couple of holes on this roster to fill, plus it will be Luka’s future team for the Lakers to build around. Will LBJ take a back seat to a Luka’s Lakers roster in 2027, that is one question, Luka and Reaves without LBJ will not work for the Lakers, so the odd man out will be Reaves. What do the Lakers do now, LBJ and Luka works a lot better than a Reaves and Luka. Let Reaves and Ayton go bring in a good all-around center that can work with Luka and James then build the depth of the bench.
Giannis Draymond Lebron Kawhi Steph
Horford Post Gui Klay Cryer
John Paul George Ringo
Lloyd! Would that mean that Davey is the 5th Beatle?
Davey’s dream team that would lose in the playoffs first round.
How would they lose? They would win 70+ games.
Arc’s dream is GSW losing 70 games. Gross.
They would need to never get 1 injury all season and find the fountain of youth. Do you understand players get old and injured?
I just saw Lebron put the Lakers on his back singlehandedly all the way to the semis.
You dont appear to understand this and think all 100% of players over 35 are injured during the playoffs. Untrue.
Why are you caping for GSW to be losers? Why do you WANT that to happen, and immediately go to worstcase scenario in EVERY scenario???
Me: “this could happen”
You: “that will never happen and GSW would lose anyway”
Its getting boring dude. Get a new trick. Try being positive maybe? You were 100% wrong about Giannis, you said GSW was not even interested, yet they had an agreed on deal for Giannis, that Giannis himself canceled. GSW -is- interested in Giannis, and adding Giannis to Steph would be the best duo in the league.
Why do you not want GSW to win while Steph is still here? Just go be a fan of a different sport until Steph retires then.
Warriors need to go young. Every team that is competing has a deep bench. Warriors have not much of a bench and if they go after anyone they will even have less of a bench. You can’t trade away 5 years in hope that the warriors can compete 1 year. Since the warriors already at the cap they can’t just add players. Lebron is not sigbning for peanuts and Leonard is not coming to the warriors for free.
You say those last things in absolutes, but they are not. You are not a Warriors employee, you cannot confirm or deny that, it is stupid to say things like that. Say “likely not” instead of “not” in future or pay the price.
you are not a warrior emoployee so what you say has no more than what I am saying. The cost of 4 1st round picks is not worth 1 year of Giannis.
I never speak in absolutes when doing analysis, you do.
People around here WISH I spoke in absolutes, but if you check the records, I usually am careful to not write the way you currently are writing in.
That’s a 43-39 team 70??!! delusional
Maybe he should put on another hour long special to decide where to take his talent
It’s wild to think that, historically, that was the lowest point of Lebron’s legacy – at that moment, the entire media was screaming “Lebron is corny and not even that good”. Then this happened, then the Klutch media happened, then suddenly we saw “Lebron=GOAT” everywhere, when he is barely top 10 all-time. Wemby might be better. Joker might be better. Flagg might be the same player as Lebron.
i would love to watch that
wish they would ask him as he weighs retirement would he be concerned about Bronny’s outlook as well
New York will never win a championship they are kind of weird
But they have won a championship.
Bring back Bill Bradley .. maybe even Phil Jackson
*they have won 2 championships, 1970 and 1973. Beat the Lakers both times.
*they will never win one again.
They seem well on their way to another opportunity. Never might come sooner than later.
They aren’t getting by the Pistons, Thunder or Spurs.
Lol the pistons are busy losing to the cavs, Knicks will dog walk both. Only team that scares Knicks fans is OKC. And I don’t care which it is, spurs or Thunder. Will be a great finals. Your team even in it?
I got to watch my team win 4+ rings while watching almost every minute every one of those seasons. Have you ever done that?
I also did that 2x when they lost the Finals. You are halfway to this point, not the above one.
76ers didnt even belong in these playoffs. They have 2 good players, 2 broken old stars and the rest is scrub city. Warriors and Curry would have swept them too lol
They were good enough to come back from 3-1. Why are you acting like the Knicks are a bad team? You’re now moving the goal posts because Detroit and Cleveland are trash. Again, is your team even in it? You’re talking a lot of trash for someone’s whose team probably isn’t even in it. Knicks are going to the finals and you get to watch. Whether they win or lose at least they’ll be there.
13 straight wins and up 2-0 against the team you said would sweep the Knicks. Hope you’ve been enjoying these finals cause they’ve been spectacular!!
Still feel the same?