LeBron James Doesn’t Rule Out Retirement After Season-Ending Loss

LeBron James may have played his final NBA game.

After the Lakers’ season-ending loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday, April 30, the NBA superstar, 40, said he’s not sure if he’ll return for another season.

James told reporters, “I don’t know,” when asked how much longer he wants to play. “I don’t have an answer to that,” the league’s all-time leading scorer continued. “Something I’ll sit down with my family, my wife and my support group and kind of just talk through it and see what happens.”

James added, “And just have a conversation with myself on how long I want to continue to play. I don’t know the answer to that right now, to be honest. So we’ll see.”

The Lakers star looked disheartened as he greeted his wife Savannah James in the tunnel after the loss. Savannah, 38, consoled her husband with a quick kiss before he spoke to reporters for the last time this season, telling them he wasn’t happy with the ending.

“Every season that I did not make it to the Finals or did not win a championship has been a disappointment,” James said.

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In February, the Lakers acquired former Mavericks superstar Luka Dončic, which led fans to believe the team could make a push for another title this postseason. However, the Timberwolves sent the Lakers packing in just five games.

But luckily for Laker fans, ESPN insider Shams Charania told Pat McAfee on Thursday, May 1 that James is expected to play “at least another NBA season” and will potentially extend his playing career through the 2026 Draft, when his younger son Bryce Maximus becomes eligible for the league.

“[Bryce James] is gonna be potentially draft eligible in 2026 … [LeBron’s] got a $54 million player option … He probably opts into that,” Charania said on Thursday.

The father of three made history this season with his eldest son, LeBron “Bronny” James Jr., as the first father and son to share an NBA court.

LeBron called it a “crazy moment” he will “never forget” during a postgame interview. “It’s always been family over everything. To be able to have this moment working still and working alongside my son, it’s one of the greatest gifts I got from the man above and I’m going to take full advantage of it.”

LeBron and Savannah are also parents to Zhuri Nova, 10.