LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts prior to game four of the Western Conference Finals against the Denver Nuggets at Crypto.com Arena on May 22, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Harry How/Getty Images/AFP
LeBron James is reportedly considering retirement from basketball after the Los Angeles Lakers were swept out of the NBA playoffs by the Denver Nuggets on Monday.
ESPN reported that the 38-year-old was thinking about “walking away” from the sport after the Lakers’ defeat brought the curtain down on his 20th season in the league.
Chris Haynes, a reporter for the TNT broadcaster, said in a separate tweet citing league sources that James’s retirement was “under consideration.”
LeBron himself fueled speculation about his future in a cryptic post-game press conference, saying that he planned to take time to reflect on the next stage of his career after the Lakers’ exit.
LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after being fouled during the first quarter against the Denver Nuggets in game four of the Western Conference Finals at Crypto.com Arena on May 22, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Harry How/Getty Images/AFP
Asked for his reflections on the past season, where he became the league’s all-time leading points scorer before leading a rejuvenated Lakers to the brink of the NBA Finals, James said the campaign had been “challenging.”
“I don’t know. I think it was okay. I don’t like to say it’s a successful year because I don’t play for anything besides winning championships at this point in my career,” said LeBron, who delivered a vintage 40-point performance in the Lakers’ 113-111 loss on Monday.
“I don’t get a kick out of making a Conference (finals) appearance. I’ve done it, a lot. And it’s not fun to me to not be able to be a part of getting to the Finals.
“But we’ll see. We’ll see. We’ll see what happens going forward. I don’t know. I’ve got a lot to think about to be honest. I’ve got a lot to think about to be honest.
“Just for me personally going forward with the game of basketball, I’ve got a lot to think about.”
"Nothing. I know how great he is. I know how great Joker is."
LeBron is asked what Nikola Jokic proved during the series 🔊#NBAConferenceFinals presented by @GooglePixel_US pic.twitter.com/HuZ55D32mm
— NBA (@NBA) May 23, 2023
James signed a two-year contract extension with the Lakers last August that would keep him at the club through the 2024-2025 season.
He has long said that he wants to continue playing in order to play with or against his son Bronny James, who will play college basketball next season at the University of Southern California and could conceivably enter the NBA in time for the 2024-2025 campaign.