Key Takeaways
- After the Lakers were eliminated from the playoffs, 41-year-old LeBron James was again asked about what his future may hold.
- James said he will “recalibrate” while spending time with family.
- The NBA legend also looked back on the high mark of his time with the Lakers, where he’s spent eight seasons.
LeBron James is again playing coy when it comes to what his future may hold after the Lakers were knocked out of the playoffs by the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday (May 11).
The Lakers ultimately failed to turn things around in Game Four, while the Thunder secured a sweep with a final score of 115-110. Speaking with reporters after the game, as seen in the ESPN-shared video below, James was, as expected, asked about what may come next for him after an impressive 2025-2026 season.
“Well, I think you guys asked me about it and I’ve answered questions,” James said Monday night. “I don’t think I’ve come out like, ‘Oh, retirement is coming.’ So, I mean, with my future, I don’t know. Obviously, we still fresh from 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, you know, I got a lot of time. I'll sit back like I think I said last year after we lost, I think, to Minnesota, go back and recalibrate with my family and talk with them and spend some time with them. And then when the time comes, obviously, you guys will know what I decide to do.”
James, 41, was also asked to name some of the highlights of his time with the Lakers, where he’s spent eight seasons. Per the NBA legend, who remains a fixture in greatest-of-all-time debates, winning a championship in 2020 “would stand at the top for sure.”
For some time now, questions from interviewers have thrust James into a frequently reflective state of mind. In a 2024 interview with Complex, for example, we asked him what he might tell his younger self if given the opportunity to welcome him as a guest on The Shop.
“I’d probably ask him what his goals are for the next five, 10, and 20 years,” James told Complex at the time. “In terms of advice, I’d just tell him to keep working hard every day and getting better at your craft. Block out the noise and stay close to the people who have been with you since day one. It’s not easy but following that blueprint has helped me stay grounded over the years.”
