LeBron James is once again facing questions about his NBA future after the Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated from the playoffs by the Oklahoma City Thunder.
After the Lakers lost 115-110 in Game 4 and completed a second-round sweep, the 41-year-old admitted he still doesn’t know if he will return next season.
“I think what you’re asking me is [retirement]I have answered the question. I don’t think I’m going to say, ‘Oh, retirement is coming,'” James said after the loss. “I don’t know my future, to be honest with you. Obviously, it has just experienced it and is obviously losing [the series]. I have no idea. I don’t know what my future holds. “
Although the series ended in disappointment, James made it clear that he was proud of the effort he put in throughout the postseason.
“I left everything on the floor that could fit on the floor,” James said. “I could walk off the court and say, ‘S—,’ even though I obviously hate losing, I was focused on what we needed to do. … I tried to make sure our guys were focused on what we needed to do throughout the playoffs, throughout 10 games. Obviously we were a little behind, but I don’t think I had a disappointing year, that’s for sure.”
James plans to leave and evaluate everything with his family before making a final decision on whether to continue playing.
James said he plans to spend the next few weeks “resetting with his family and talking to them and spending some time with them.”
James enters the offseason for the first time during his tenure with the Lakers without a contract or player option on his future.
The four-time champion finished his 23rd NBA season averaging 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds per game during the regular season before upping his game in the playoffs.
Even after such a monumental achievement, James admitted that the pursuit of another championship still drives him.
“I’ve done it all. I’ve seen it all,” James said. “Being able to compete and try to win a championship, I think that’s a motivating factor.”
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