There are plenty of major questions for the upcoming NBA offseason, including whether LeBron James will return to play another season or hang up his basketball gear to enjoy retirement.
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He completed his 23rd season with the Los Angeles Lakers, a team he’s played for eight seasons and captured a championship with during the infamous 2020 “NBA Bubble Playoffs.” His most recent season and postseason further showed his value to the roster, or any other roster, should he decide to return.
This offseason brings his biggest decision since his headline-making decisions to join the Lakers and the Miami Heat, and to rejoin his first-ever team, the Cleveland Cavaliers.
It’s a conversation between him and his longtime agent, Rich Paul, who recently shared an update on LeBron’s situation. Paul also responded to rumors that LeBron was disgruntled about a locker-room situation in which he was said to feel the Lakers were taking him for granted.
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While speaking with Max Kellerman on The Ringer’s “Game Over” podcast, Paul indicated that, thus far, he and LeBron have not discussed his future. It’s only been a few days since the Oklahoma City Thunder swept King James and the Lakers from the Western Conference playoffs.
“There’s been no conversation,” Paul shared. “We want to be extremely respectful to him and his family. I don’t know anything. I know absolutely nothing. I’m not talking to him about it. We’re not talking about it.”
There was a recent ESPN report suggesting (via sources) that after a significant Lakers win, LeBron experienced “another example of the Lakers taking him for granted.” That reportedly occurred when general manager Rob Pelinka handed a game ball to coach JJ Redick, rather than to LeBron or teammates Luka Doncic or Rui Hachimura, who had just achieved career scoring milestones.
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LeBron’s agent disputed those rumors, suggesting that it isn’t something he believes LeBron was upset about.
“I think people are reading to much into the signed ball. I never in my life seen LeBron get disgruntled about a basketball or some type of accolade. I can’t tell you how many player of week, player of the month, MVPs, Gold Medal, trophies dating back to 1992. This man got so many awards. Another basketball?” Paul said.
Meanwhile, aside from rumors of internal frustrations, the Lakers aren’t expected to be the only team that could try to land LeBron should he return. At least four other teams could be players: the Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Clippers, and Cleveland Cavaliers.
The speculation is that LeBron would play another season, then a retirement tour, to wrap up his legendary career. Some think he’ll end things where he started, back in Cleveland, while others believe he might pursue a championship with another squad.
Staying in Los Angeles with a roster that features the Lakers’ next franchise superstar, and potentially another All-Star piece in Austin Reaves, seems to make a lot of sense, based on the success this team saw when everyone was healthy and on the court together.
Regardless, LeBron has plenty of time to start thinking about his future, and he’s likely enjoying time with family and other pursuits before weighing the possibilities for another NBA season.
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