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With the Minnesota Timberwolves eliminating the Los Angeles Lakers from the NBA playoffs on Wednesday with a 103-96 Game 5 win, the question immediately on everyone’s mind was will LeBron James retire?
James, who averaged 25.4 points, nine rebounds, 5.6 assists, two steals, and 1.8 blocks per game in L.A.’s five playoff games, gave a noncommittal answer after the game when asked about his future by reporters.
“I don’t know; I don’t have an answer to that,” James said. “Something I’ll sit down with my family, my wife and my support group and just kind of talk through it and see what happens. 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.”
And while some are convinced James is ready to call it a career and spend more time with his family, others believe he’s not ready to ride off into the sunset just yet.
ESPN’s Shams Charania falls in that camp, and during a Thursday appearance on the “Pat McAfee Show,” Charania gave a pretty big update on James’ likely decision.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) reacts to a replay that confirms he fouled Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) in the fourth quarter during game four of first round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Target Center.Matt Blewett-Imagn Images
“How long is LeBron James going to play?” Charania asked. “There’s no expectation for LeBron James to retire, I will say that. My understanding is he will play at least another NBA season. You think about next year, 2025-26, it’ll be Year 23, that would set a league record — number 23 for No. 23.
“The All-Star Game is in Los Angeles, he’ll be potentially playing in Los Angeles. There’s a lot of stars that would align for next season, potentially, if that’s what LeBron James decides. He’d be 41 years old in December. So the expectation is he’s going to be playing at least another season.”
If James does return, the Lakers’ front office has some tough decisions to make.
As Charania pointed out, James has a $54 million player option that he would likely opt into, and the team would also have to pony up the money to re-sign star point guard Luka Doncic while also finding a legitimate center to add to the roster.
“Before it was about free agency, before it was about where is he going to end up, now it’s about is he going to play anymore and how long is he going to play,” Charania continued. “Either way, him coming back to the Lakers there’s going to be a lot of questions. … This is a LeBron James at 40 years old who was playing significant minutes as a center, and I don’t expect that to be in his future, to be playing the center position at 41 years old.”
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James, who averaged 25.4 points, nine rebounds, 5.6 assists, two steals, and 1.8 blocks per game in L.A.’s five playoff games, gave a noncommittal answer after the game when asked about his future by reporters.
“I don’t know; I don’t have an answer to that,” James said. “Something I’ll sit down with my family, my wife and my support group and just kind of talk through it and see what happens. 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.”
And while some are convinced James is ready to call it a career and spend more time with his family, others believe he’s not ready to ride off into the sunset just yet.
ESPN’s Shams Charania falls in that camp, and during a Thursday appearance on the “Pat McAfee Show,” Charania gave a pretty big update on James’ likely decision.
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Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) reacts to a replay that confirms he fouled Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) in the fourth quarter during game four of first round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Target Center.Matt Blewett-Imagn Images
“How long is LeBron James going to play?” Charania asked. “There’s no expectation for LeBron James to retire, I will say that. My understanding is he will play at least another NBA season. You think about next year, 2025-26, it’ll be Year 23, that would set a league record — number 23 for No. 23.
“The All-Star Game is in Los Angeles, he’ll be potentially playing in Los Angeles. There’s a lot of stars that would align for next season, potentially, if that’s what LeBron James decides. He’d be 41 years old in December. So the expectation is he’s going to be playing at least another season.”
If James does return, the Lakers’ front office has some tough decisions to make.
As Charania pointed out, James has a $54 million player option that he would likely opt into, and the team would also have to pony up the money to re-sign star point guard Luka Doncic while also finding a legitimate center to add to the roster.
“Before it was about free agency, before it was about where is he going to end up, now it’s about is he going to play anymore and how long is he going to play,” Charania continued. “Either way, him coming back to the Lakers there’s going to be a lot of questions. … This is a LeBron James at 40 years old who was playing significant minutes as a center, and I don’t expect that to be in his future, to be playing the center position at 41 years old.”
Continue reading...
