Could this be the top?
LeBron James’ cryptic press convention Monday after the Los Angeles Lakers’ Game 4 loss to the Denver Nuggets raises professional questions on his future.
The 38-year-old hinted at retirement after being swept out of the Western Conference Finals.
“We’ll see what happens going forward,” James stated Monday evening at Crypto.com Arena. “I don’t know. I don’t know. I’ve got a lot to think about, to be honest. Just for me personally going forward with the game of basketball, I’ve got a lot to think about. …”
“It’s all about availability for me and keeping my mind sharp, and things of that nature,” James stated. “Being present on the floor, being present in the locker room and bus rides and plane rides, things of that nature. It’s challenging, for sure. It was a very challenging season for me, for our ballclub, and obviously we know whatever went on early on [in the Lakers’ 2-10 start to the season]. It was cool, a pretty cool ride.”
Any trace of strolling away from the NBA comes as a shock contemplating the four-time MVP has repeatedly stated he needs to play along with his son, Bronny, earlier than he heads off into the sundown.
Bronny not too long ago dedicated to play basketball at USC subsequent season. He is not going to be within the NBA till the 2024-25 season at minimal. Playing along with his son appeared to be the precedence earlier than ideas of “early” retirement creeped into James’ head.
“I need to be on the floor with my boy, I got to be on the floor with Bronny,” LeBron stated on Jan. 6. “Either in the identical uniform or a matchup in opposition to him. I don’t imply like [guarding one another all game] — as a result of he’s a degree guard and I’m a, at this level now I’m taking part in middle or regardless of the group wants from me. But I might like to do the entire Ken Griffey Sr. and Jr. factor. That can be excellent for certain.
“I ask him what are his aspirations, and he says he wants to play in the NBA. So, if he wants do to it, he’s got to put in the work. I’m here already, so, I’m just waiting on him.”
The NBA’s all-time main scorer didn’t seem to have misplaced a step within the first half of Game 4 as he carried the Lakers to a 15-point halftime lead by tying his profession excessive for factors in any first half (30). His remaining statline was 40 factors, 10 rebounds and eight assists in his 282nd profession playoff recreation, probably the most in NBA historical past. But a weary-looking LeBron missed two potential tying photographs within the remaining minute of Denver’s 113-111 win.
However, his lack of availability throughout his twentieth season appears to have put a damper on what was one other phenomenal statistical season.
James averaged 28.9 factors, 8.3 rebounds and 6.8 assists, nevertheless, he performed in simply 55 video games as he missed a month of the season with a foot harm.
“I guess I’ll reflect on my career when I’m done, but I don’t know,” James stated. “The only thing I concern myself with is being available to my teammates, and I don’t like the fact that I didn’t play as many games as I would have liked because of injury. That’s the only thing I care about, is being available to my teammates.”
James’ Lakers went a lot additional this season than many would have anticipated early on. Darvin Ham’s squad was 25-31 with the playoffs seeming like an extended shot. However, they turned the season round with the assistance from some new additions corresponding to D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura and Jarred Vanderbilt ending 44-38 and the No. 7 seed within the Western Conference after defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves within the play-in recreation.
The Lakers then went on to take down the No. 2 seed Memphis Grizzlies within the first spherical after which Steph Curry’s Golden State Warriors within the second spherical earlier than their run got here to an finish on Monday evening.
James is beneath contract for $46.9 million subsequent season with the Lakers.
With The Associated Press
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Source: www.bostonherald.com