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LeBron James' uncertain future

2023-05-26T05:22:53.290Z

Highlights: The star has two more years on his contract with the Lakers, but says he must think "whether to keep playing" James became the NBA's all-time regular season leading scorer this season, surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. With four championships won, he admitted this week that he continues to play only to win more rings. The franchise will pay him $46.9 million in the 2023-2024 season and has signed a $50.6 million extension option for the next season.


The star has two more years on his contract with the Lakers, but says he must think "whether to keep playing"


Every NBA season finale a question begins to run through the league. How much time does LeBron James have left? This week it was the 38-year-old star who has played with the possibility of leaving the courts after 20 campaigns. "Let's see what happens later. I don't know. I have a lot to think about, to be honest, what it is for me to keep playing basketball, "confessed the Lakers player after the Denver Nuggets swept his team by a resounding 4-0 in the final of the Western Conference.

James' words have set off a wave of rumors. It is not the first time that the star has tested the waters of the retreat. ESPN asked him to clarify his words after a press conference in which he was open to reflect on the future. "What do you mean when you say you want to think things through?" a reporter from the sports network asked. "If I want to keep playing... I have to think about it," replied the forward.

Many in the Lakers locker room believe it's without a solid foundation. James himself explained that his level of play is still above "90 or 95%" of NBA players. One example was the last game against Denver at home. Despite being eliminated, James was only four seconds on the bench in the entire game. He scored 40 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out nine assists in his best performance in the last 10 games.

"It would be crazy to see him say goodbye to the sport, especially when I think he still has more in the tank," teammate D'Angelo Russell said. "I don't see it... with those numbers it is clear that he still has a lot in him to give a couple more years, "added Dennis Schröder, German point guard of the Los Angeles team.

In what was the farewell of the season, the leadership of the Los Angeles organization said that in the coming days it will discuss the issue with LeBron. "He's given more to basketball than a lot of others, and when you do that you earn the right to decide if you're going to contribute more," said Rob Pelinka, the team's manager. Lakers coach Darvin Ham, who closed his first year as head coach, said the team's mainstay should do what "makes him feel most comfortable."

James became the NBA's all-time regular season leading scorer this season, surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. With four championships won, he admitted this week that he continues to play only to win more rings. At the moment, the Lakers continue to give him that option by still having two more years on his contract. The franchise will pay him $46.9 million in the 2023-2024 season and has signed a $50.6 million extension option for the next season. To leave now would be to leave nearly $100 million on the table.

Match your child

If he retires, the athlete would also give up one of his few dreams to conquer, which is to coincide in a season in the NBA with his son Bronny. The firstborn of the family signed this year with the University of Southern California team. He is anticipated to be available for the NBA draft in 2024.

Some analysts believe that LeBron's words were an encrypted message to the leadership of the Lakers with the intention of building him around him, and next to Anthony Davis, a team with which he is able to win the fifth ring and extend his legacy. The Lakers turned around the season that concludes thanks to a series of transfers arrived at the close of the deadline. The future is up in the air for many of the players who pushed the franchise to the conference finals. The continuity of Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura and Russell himself, who had a lower than expected performance in the series against Nikola Jokic's Nuggets, is in doubt. James wants certainty before starting his 21st season in the NBA.

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Source: elparis

All sports articles on 2023-05-26

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