After being eliminated in five games by the defending champion Denver Nuggets, LeBron James spoke to the press about what’s next for the Los Angeles Lakers star.
The Nuggets cruised to a 4-1 series victory on Monday, knocking the Lakers out of the postseason for the second year in a row. It is the fourth time that LeBron has failed to advance beyond the first round of the playoffs in his six years with the franchise, after falling to the Phoenix Suns in 2021 and failing to qualify in 2019 and 2022 — even though LA won a championship during the pandemic.
With his season once again coming to a premature end, James is looking forward to spending some time away from basketball.
“Honestly, I just want to go back home and to my family,” said the number 23 after the game.
“One of my boys is trying to decide whether to enter the draft or go back to school,” he added, referring to his 19-year-old son Bronny.
“I have another kid who is playing AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) ball right now. My daughter is playing volleyball and my wife is doing so many good things, so it’s a family thing now.”
Despite the series’ lopsided score, the Nuggets were frequently pressured by the Lakers and relied on guard Jamal Murray’s heroics in the final seconds of the game on two separate occasions.
LeBron James, playing in his 21st season in the league, averaged 27.8 points in five games, along with 6.8 rebounds, 8.8 assists, 2.4 steals and one block.
Despite the positive side of an extended break, the summer will not be a long vacation for the 39-year-old athlete. He will go to Paris to represent the United States team at the Olympics alongside the likes of Kevin Durant and Steph Curry .
“I have to rest my body to play for the national team.”
The next few months will also give LeBron time to consider his future with the Los Angeles Lakers. The star has an option to renew his contract and will be eligible to become a free agent this offseason, but he has not opened up about his plans for next season.
“I’m not going to answer that,” he said when asked about his future with the franchise.
LeBron James also shied away from the idea of playing with his son Bronny in the NBA and insisted it wasn’t his decision.
“I don’t know, I haven’t thought about it much lately,” James said. “Of course I’ve thought about it, but at the end of the day the boy has to do what he wants. He will decide what to do and how he wants his career to be.”
Bronny, who returned to play in December after suffering cardiac arrest in July of last year , recently completed his freshman season at the University of Southern California and declared himself eligible for the 2024 NBA Draft in April, maintaining his eligibility for the faculty.
While it’s unclear whether the NBA’s all-time leading scorer will still play for the Lakers in October or have the chance to share the court with his son, all signs point to James returning for a record-tying 22nd season in the NBA. turns on.
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