The Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated from the NBA playoffs after falling to the Oklahoma City Thunder, and all eyes immediately turned to the future of LeBron James, who avoided confirming whether he played the last game of his legendary career.
After the defeat that ended the Los Angeles season, James acknowledged that he still has not made a decision about his continuity in the NBA.
“I don’t know, obviously. We just lost and everything is very fresh. I don’t know what the future holds for me,” LeBron declared to the media.
The veteran forward explained that he will now take time to reflect with his family before deciding if he will play one more season or if he will put an end to a historic career.
LeBron, still competitive at 41 years old
At 41 years old, James closed the game with 24 points, 12 rebounds and three assists, although he missed a penetration in the final seconds that could have given the Lakers the lead.
Despite the elimination, the four-time NBA champion made it clear that he does not consider the campaign a failure.
“I left everything I had on the court. I hate losing, but I can leave calm because I was completely focused on what we needed to do,” he said.
The 2025-26 season was LeBron’s 23rd in the NBA, setting a new record for longevity in the league. Additionally, it marked a major change in his career, as for the first time he assumed a secondary role behind Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves in the Lakers’ attack.
“It had never been a third option in my life,” James acknowledged.
Retirement remains a mystery
All season long, LeBron avoided committing to his future. The American star is now entering the final year of his $101.4 million contract and could become an unrestricted free agent in the summer.
James also assured that he no longer feels the need to prove anything on an individual level.
“There’s nothing I need to prove in this league. I’ve done it all and seen it all,” he said.
Injuries also marked part of his campaign. The forward played just 60 regular season games, one of the lowest numbers of his career, after missing the first 14 games due to sciatica problems.
Even so, he made it clear that his passion for basketball remains intact.
“The love for the game will always be there,” LeBron concluded.
