LeBron James was not prepared to discuss his future in the NBA immediately following the Los Angeles Lakers’ season-ending defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night. The Thunder secured a 115-110 victory on the Lakers’ home floor, completing a dominant sweep of the Western Conference semifinals. Despite the loss, James showed he still has plenty left in the tank, leading all players with 12 rebounds to go along with 24 points.
The 41-year-old legend has just concluded an unprecedented 23rd season in the league. As the NBA’s all-time leading scorer prepares to enter unrestricted free agency this summer, his next move remains the biggest question mark in professional basketball.
Is LeBron James Retiring? ‘I Dont Know,’ Says The Lakers Legend
“What my future (holds), I don’t know, obviously,” he said after the defeat. “I mean, this is obviously still fresh from obviously losing and I don’t know. I mean, I don’t know what the future holds for me obviously as it stands right now tonight.
“I got a lot of time to sit back like I think I said last year after we lost, I think to Minnesota, to go back and recalibrate with my family and talk with them and spend some time with them and then when the time comes, I’ll obviously you guys will know what I decide to do.”
LeBron James on his future:
“I don’t know what the future holds for me … I’ll go back and recalibrate with my family and talk with them, spend some time with them, and when the time comes, you guys will know what I decide to do.”pic.twitter.com/zTpxHWi00T
— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) May 12, 2026
James was selected to his 22nd consecutive All-Star Game as he thrived in an unfamiliar role for much of the season. Luka Doncic was the Lakers’ top offensive threat, and he led the league with an average of 33.5 points per game. Austin Reaves ranked second on the team at 23.3 ppg, with James third at 20.9 ppg.
James contributed 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds per contest.
Doncic missed all of the Lakers’ playoff games due to a hamstring injury. Reaves sat out the final five regular-season games and first four postseason games because of oblique strains.
In the playoffs, James averaged 23.2 points, 7.3 assists and 6.7 rebounds.
“Obviously we fell a little short, but I’m not looking at my year as a disappointment, that’s for damn sure,” James said. “I was put in some positions I never played in my career before, actually in my life. I’ve never been a third option in my life.
“So, to be able to thrive in that role for that period of time and then have to step back into the role that I’ve been accustomed with over my career or my life playing this sport and be able to thrive under that and then just my teammates allowing me to lead them under extreme circumstances, I thought that was pretty cool for me at this stage of my career.”
Austin Reaves Also Faces Major Free Agency Decision
Reaves, 27, also has a decision to make about his future. The 27-year-old guard has a $14.9 million player option that he is expected to decline to become an unrestricted free agent.
“It’s been fun. It’s been a joy. It’s been a grind,” Reaves said after the Lakers’ Monday loss. “A lot of things didn’t go our way this season and there were a lot of opportunities for us to quit, and you know, that’s not who we got in the locker room or the organization. Everybody stuck together.
“I’ve been around the NBA for five years now. I know a lot of teams would have given up (due to late-season injuries), and that wasn’t the case with this team.”
(With Inputs From Reuters)
