LeBron James Hints At Retirement After Crushing Play-off Elimination
Following the Lakers' season-ending Game 5 loss to Minnesota on Wednesday, star forward LeBron James admitted he’s unsure about how much longer he plans to play, as reported by ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
"I don’t know," James said when asked about his future. "I don’t have an answer right now. It’s something I’ll discuss with my family, my wife, and my support system. I need to reflect on how much longer I want to keep playing. Honestly, I’m not sure yet, so we’ll see."
James holds a $52.6 million player option for the 2025-26 season. When discussing the Lakers' roster outlook, he acknowledged having "a lot to think about" regarding his own path.
The four-time MVP clarified that his uncertainty revolves around his career longevity—not his desire to stay in Los Angeles.
"Continuing to play—I don’t know where I stand on that," James told ESPN. "That’s the question. It’s not about whether I’ll return here, but whether I’ll keep playing at all."
James isn’t the only Laker facing a major contract decision. Star guard Luka Dončić, eligible for a full extension on August 2, said he’s "really glad" to be in L.A. but needs time to weigh his options.
Luka Doncic on playing for the Lakers and if he can see a long-term future: “Yeah. It’s been great, honestly. The way the fans accepted me has been amazing. I’m really glad that I’m here.” pic.twitter.com/8FxAVpDYl1
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) May 1, 2025
Meanwhile, forward Dorian Finney-Smith, who bolstered the Lakers' defense after a midseason trade, must decide on a $15.4 million player option this summer. According to The Athletic’s Jovan Buha, Finney-Smith hasn’t yet considered his choice.
Dorian Finney-Smith said he hasn't thought about his player option for 2025-26 yet.
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) May 1, 2025
Even if the Lakers retain James, Dončić, and Finney-Smith, they’ll need to address a glaring hole at center. In Game 5, head coach JJ Redick started Finney-Smith over Jaxson Hayes, who didn’t play, leaving the Lakers without a true center for most of the night.
Maxi Kleber, making his debut post-foot surgery, logged just five minutes.
Minnesota exploited L.A.’s lack of size, shooting an efficient 20-of-22 (90.9%) in the restricted area, per Locked on Sports Minnesota’s Jack Borman.
The Timberwolves also dominated the boards 54-37, with Rudy Gobert grabbing 24 rebounds—nine offensive—surpassing the Lakers’ team total (eight). The rebounding gap gave Minnesota 11 more field goal attempts and eight more free throws.
When asked if playing without a true center hurt the Lakers, James humorously declined to answer.
"My guy A.D. said his piece and was gone the next week, so no comment," James joked to the Los Angeles Times’ Dan Woike. "All that matters is I gave everything I had in this uniform every night."
Image - Matt Blewett-Imagn
