Lakers’ James unsure ‘what the future holds’ after playoff disappointment

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James wouldn’t say whether he played his final NBA minutes after Monday night’s season-ending loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. 

Oklahoma City swept Los Angeles in the second-round playoff series, delivering an unceremonious end to James’ record-setting 23rd NBA season. 

“I don’t think I’ve come out and been like, ’Oh, retirement is coming,’” James told reporters after the game. “With my future, I don’t know, honestly. Obviously, it’s still fresh from losing. And I don’t know. I don’t know what the future holds for me.”

James, 41, scored 24 points and nabbed a game-high 12 rebounds in the Game 4 defeat in L.A.

Father Time has slowly started to catch up with the four-time MVP. He averaged 20.9 points per game this season, tied with his rookie year for a career low. 

The Ohio native still managed 6.1 rebounds per game and 7.2 assists as the league’s elder statesman throughout the campaign. 

“Obviously, we fell a little short, but I’m not looking at my year as a disappointment, that’s for damn sure,” he said. 

James is slated to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. He made $52.6 million in the final year of his contract with the Lakers, and it’s unclear what kind of deal the 22-time All-Star would look for if he returns for a 24th season. 

The money, he contended, is not the top motivating factor as James mulls retirement. 

“I think for me it’s about the process,” he said, noting that he would take a few weeks to “recalibrate” with his family. 

James played with his son Bronny the past two seasons with the Lakers.

He said his consideration whether to come back will involve “if I can commit to still being in love with the process, of showing up to the arena 5 1/2 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.”

Even his son couldn’t confidently speculate after Monday’s 115-110 loss.

“I have no clue,” Bronny James told reporters. “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 the league. It’s insane. I think he should think about it, and whatever he feels happy with, do that.”