Though it wasn’t nearly as cryptic as last year’s answer following the loss to the Nuggets, Lakers superstar LeBron James continued to leave questions unanswered about his future in Los Angeles and in the NBA after his 21st season came to an end.
Los Angeles chose to hold their annual exit interviews immediately after Monday’s elimination by the Nuggets in Game 5, giving most players on the roster a chance to speak their minds fresh off another disappointing result.
James, whose exit interviews are usually appointment viewing considering his encroaching retirement, stayed mum in this go-around, opting for a more reserved approach as he enters free agency this off-season.
When asked if this was his last game with the Lakers, he gave a smile and simply said: “I’m not gonna answer that. Appreciate it.”
This was the earliest that James had ever been eliminated from the playoffs in 17 attempts at the big dance. His previous record came in the 2020-21 season when the Lakers lasted only six games against the Phoenix Suns. Otherwise, James had become a stalwart in the later rounds of the playoffs.
Instead of having to walk that road for the next month or so, he’ll now relish the chance to spend some time with his family.
“Nah I just want to get home to the family,” he said when asked if he’s thought about the next steps for him and his career. “Start looking at the schedule I got one of my boys trying to decide if he’s gonna enter the draft or go back to school. I got another kid that’s playing AAU ball right now. My daughter is playing volleyball and my wife is doing so many great things. So it’s about family right now.
“Then in a couple months I have to get ready to go to Vegas for training camp for Team USA.”
Regardless of what comes next for LeBron in the NBA, he confirmed at least that this won’t be the last we see of him on the basketball court as his commitment to Team USA for the Paris Olympics remains set.
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There have also been questions as to whether he wants to stay in the league until he’s able to play with his son Bronny James, who just completed his first year playing basketball at USC and entered his name into the NBA Draft.
However, James changed his tune on Monday, potentially hinting at the idea that staying around long enough to play with him may not be in the cards.
“Haven’t given much thought lately,” he said. “Obviously, I thought about it in the past, but at the end of the day, the kid has to do what he wants to do, how he wants his career to go.”
The Athletic‘s Shams Charania did however report on Monday that the Lakers are open to the idea of drafting Bronny, should he remain in the draft, in hopes that it keeps LeBron in Los Angeles.
Regardless, James is set to hit free agency for the fourth time in his career should he decline his player option. Each of the last three times, he turned into the talk of the off-season.
With aspirations to play with his son seemingly calming down, and prospects about the Lakers’ future chances up in the air following another defeat at the hands of the Nuggets, questions about what comes next will be top of mind despite James’ non-answer on Monday.
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