Despite having options, James remains clueless about his future
LeBron James has options.
He could stay with the Los Angeles Lakers. He could decide to join another team. He could even retire and end the longest career in NBA history. He knows all this.
He just doesn’t know the answer.
“I don’t know what the future holds for me, obviously,” James said.
His 23rd season ended Monday night when the Lakers were eliminated by the Oklahoma City Thunder. At 41, James likely doesn’t have many years left to play—if any. And now he’ll start the process of figuring out what he wants to do, what his family wants him to do and what’s best for all parties involved.
Dwyane Wade, James’ longtime friend and former teammate, was on the Amazon Prime broadcast of Game 4 of the Thunder-Lakers series as an analyst. And when the conversation turned to what James is going to do, he had some thoughts.
“That’s the question,” Wade said. “And I think if we all know LeBron James, he’s going to take some time off and go drink some wine, go yacht a little bit around the world. He’s going to spend some time with his family. He’s going to sit down and try to make the best decision for the James family at the end of the day.
“And then from there, you’ve got to look at the picture of the Lakers,” Wade continued. “LeBron, Year 24 coming back next year if he does, he wants to play for something. So, are they in a position that he can play for something and compete for something?”
Other teams
Salary will be another issue. He made nearly $53 million this season. He could command somewhere around $60 million next season if he wanted. If he gives a team a discount to preserve flexibility, he could certainly afford to do so.
Wade doesn’t seem to think that’s likely.
“History shows that Mr. James ain’t taking a lot of discounts, right? I don’t think no one knows,” Wade said. “I think one of the things that him and his entire team have been great at is they hold their cards close to their chest. Decisions are made by LeBron, and they all respect it. And they wait on him to decide what he wants to do.”
Then there are the other options outside of the Lakers.
James’ jersey will sway from the rafters one day in Miami, assuming he ever actually retires and allows such tributes to finally take place. And there’s no question that James still holds many people within the organization—Pat Riley, Erik Spoelstra and more—in high regard.
But it’s not like James has unfinished business in Miami. He became a champion in Miami; two of his four titles were won with the Heat.
Northeast Ohio is home and will forever be close to James’ heart. He’s still (and forever will be) beloved there, and whatever anger existed over him leaving in 2010 was washed away forever when he delivered Cleveland’s NBA title in 2016.
If James wants to go the sentimental route, he might go home again. It would likely be contingent on the Cavaliers finding a way to keep a roster that’s capable of contention.
The Knicks have tried and failed before to land James.
They have some serious selling points right now—among them, a good team and Madison Square Garden. That’s a place James has always revered.
James won Olympic gold in Paris in 2024 with Steve Kerr coaching and Stephen Curry starring at the end.
The respect James has for Curry is off the charts, and he’s often raved about Kerr as well. Kerr’s coming back to the Warriors, and Golden State will do anything it can to give Curry one more chance at a title.
