LeBron James says he hasn’t made any decisions yet about his playing future after the Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated in the first round of the NBA playoffs. The 41-year-old, who wrapped up his 22nd season on Wednesday, remains the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and is tied with Vince Carter for the most seasons played in league history. One more year would set a new record.
Asked about his future, LeBron responded candidly:
“I don’t have the answer to that. It’s something I’ll talk through with my wife and support system. I need to reflect on how long I want to keep playing. Honestly, I don’t know right now.”
Despite the 103-96 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, LeBron’s performance — 22 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists — showed he’s still a force on the court.
“It’s up to me how long I continue. No one else decides that,” he said.
The Lakers’ season included a major shake-up when they traded longtime star Anthony Davis for Luka Dončić. LeBron and Dončić only played 21 games together this season, but there’s hope the duo could gel over a full season next year. Since joining the Lakers seven years ago, LeBron has led them to one NBA title — the 2020 championship in the pandemic bubble.
The possibility of playing a full 82-game season alongside Dončić, whom LeBron has praised as his favorite current NBA player, could motivate him to return. Another tempting factor? The chance to team up with his son, Bronny James, who may join the Lakers soon.
“When you add a big piece midseason, it’s always tough for the whole team,” LeBron admitted. “We didn’t look great at times, but we found some rhythm later on. I don’t think we had enough time to fully mesh, but we finished strong and ended up top three in the West.”
For now, LeBron remains undecided — but he hasn’t closed the door on season 23.