The image of the defeated Lakers in their stadium, powerless to stop the Timberwolves, is not the image that LeBron James wanted for his last game of the season, especially after in early February, in the so-called “deal of the century,” the Los Angeles team added Luka Doncic in exchange for sending Anthony Davis to Dallas.
The Lakers finished the regular season third in the West and with the duo of James-Doncic, it was expected that they could at least reach the Conference Finals.
But they crossed paths with Anthony Edwards and the efficient Minnesota team, who defeated them 103-96 on Wednesday and closed the first-round series with a resounding and unexpected 4-1.
What did LeBron James say about his future in the NBA?
After the defeat against the Timberwolves, LeBron did not offer concrete definitions about his continuity in the NBA and said he will discuss his future with his closest circle.
“I don’t have the answer for that,” James commented when asked how many more years he would keep playing. “It’s something I will discuss with my wife and inner circle, and we will see what happens. I will have conversations with myself about how long I want to keep playing. To be honest, I don’t have that answer right now,” he added.
For now, there are no signs that LeBron is considering retirement, but the suspense was installed after the surprising elimination from the playoffs.
According to various analysts, the four-time champion is likely to return for his 23rd season, which would place him alone as the player with the most years played in NBA history, surpassing Vince Carter. Additionally, he is just 49 games away from tying the record for most regular season games played, currently held by Robert Parish (1,611 games).
LeBron has good reasons to keep playing
If James decides to return, he would do so to a redesigned roster centered around his partnership with Doncic, a duo that only shared the court for 21 games after the trade in February.
LeBron has expressed admiration for Doncic, whom he considers his favorite active player. Despite the ups and downs, he believes they were able to finish the regular season in good form, reaching the third spot in the West. “Every time you make a big mid-season addition, it will always be a challenge, not just for me, but for the rest of the group,” he commented. “There were moments when we clearly didn’t look good, but I think we were able to resolve it towards the end.”
Another factor that could influence James’ decision is the presence of his son Bronny on the team. The young 20-year-old player had a promising rookie season and became part of the first father-son duo to play together in NBA history. Although his participation was limited, he is expected to have a more significant role in the upcoming season.
If he continues with the Lakers, LeBron James has a guaranteed annual contract of $56.2 million.