NBA-Last dance or another year? LeBron enters offseason with uncertainty

By Nicole Fernandes

May 12 (Reuters) – After the Los Angeles Lakers were swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round of the playoffs, LeBron James enters an offseason of uncertainty that could see him stay in L.A., join another team or even retire. 

With his 23rd NBA season in the books, the league’s all-time leading scorer has many options to weigh, but the 41-year-old was not ready to make a decision fresh off the Lakers’ 115-110 loss in the Western Conference semi-final series on Monday.

“I don’t know what the future holds for me, obviously,”  the 22-times All-Star told reporters, adding that he will “recalibrate with my ⁠family and talk with them, and spend some time with them” before making a decision.

NUMBERS HAVE BEEN DECLINING

As James left the floor on Monday after putting up 24 points and a game-high 12 rebounds, some wondered if it was his last dance in the NBA.

At 41, it is not a surprise that James is not producing as much as he once did, averaging 20.9 points per game this season while playing a supporting role behind Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. His numbers have been declining since 2021-22, when he averaged 30.3 points per game.

James, who has the longest career in NBA history, said he has “always been in love with the process” of playing basketball, from showing up to morning practices and “giving everything I got.”

The native of Akron, Ohio was selected first overall in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers and steadily rose to stardom, earning MVP honors in 2009 and 2010.

He took his talents to the Miami Heat in 2010, winning back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013 before returning to the Cavaliers in 2014. 

In 2016 he led Cleveland to a championship, ending the city’s 52-year professional sports title drought.

He left the Cavaliers for the second time in 2018 to join the Lakers, where he won a fourth title in 2020.

RETURN TO L.A. STILL AN OPTION

James can choose to re-sign with L.A., though head coach JJ Redick cautioned that a decision would likely come in the next two months.

“I haven’t even thought about that,” Redick also told the media post-game. “We’ll deal with the offseason in the offseason, which is the next two months.”

It is hard to imagine a team that would not jump at the chance of having James on their roster, but they will need to give him a solid reason to join. Widely considered one of the best players of all time – his 43,440 points are the most in league history – he will likely want to go out on top.

His eldest son, L.A. guard Bronny James, said he has “no clue” about his father’s plans.

“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,” said the 21-year-old. “It’s insane. I think he should think about it, and whatever he feels happy with, do that.”

(Reporting by Nicole Fernandes in Toronto; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)