After an incredible 20-year NBA career, LeBron James has added to speculation that he could be retiring from professional basketball. The news comes after the Los Angeles Lakers were swept out of the Western Conference Finals by Nikola Jokić and the Denver Nuggets, following a nail-biting 113-111 Game 4 loss.
In a post-game interview, James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, told reporters, “We’ll see what happens going forward. I don’t know. 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.”
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported that he followed up with James after the press conference, with the Lakers star admitting that retirement is under consideration. “When you say you got to think about stuff, what thread should we be pulling on that?” McMenamin asked, to which James replied, “If I want to continue to play.”
In Monday’s win-or-go-home game, LeBron and the Lakers aimed to make history by overcoming a 3-0 series deficit to advance to the NBA Finals. Despite a strong effort from James, the Nuggets emerged victorious, sending them to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history.
LeBron’s consideration of retirement comes as a surprise, given his previous statement to The Athletic in 2022 that he would like to play his final NBA season alongside his son, Bronny James. “My last year will be played with my son. Wherever Bronny is at, that’s where I’ll be. I would do whatever it takes to play with my son for one year. It’s not about the money at that point,” James said.
Despite the Lakers’ loss, James delivered an impressive Game 4 performance, playing all 48 minutes, scoring 40 points, grabbing 10 rebounds, and dishing out nine assists. The 38-year-old’s performance demonstrated that he could continue his stellar career if he chose to do so.
Meanwhile, Nuggets star Nikola Jokić earned the Magic Johnson Western Conference Finals MVP trophy after yet another standout series. In Game 4, the ‘Joker’ achieved 30 points, 14 boards, and 13 assists, breaking Wilt Chamberlain’s 1967 record for the most triple-doubles in a playoff run.
As the Nuggets celebrate their success, they eagerly await the winner of the Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics series in the Eastern Conference Finals.
New story: Following a playoff sweep at the hands of the Nuggets, LeBron James told ESPN he will contemplate retirement this offseason as a summer of uncertainty begins for the Lakers https://t.co/iyZyJmcqYr
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) May 23, 2023
BREAKING: Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is unsure if he’ll be with team when 2023-24 season starts in fall and retirement is under consideration, league sources tell @NBAonTNT, @BleacherReport. https://t.co/7M3WuEzwOL
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) May 23, 2023
