(CNN) — After 20 incredible years in the NBA, LeBron James has added to the speculation that he could hang up his shoes for good.
This comes after the Los Angeles Lakers were defeated in the Western Conference finals by Nikola Jokić and the Denver Nuggets after a disappointing 113-111 loss in Game 4.
“We’ll see what happens from now on. I don’t know,” the leading scorer in NBA history told reporters after the game. “I have a lot to think about, to be honest.”
“Just for me personally, going forward with the game of basketball, I have a lot to think about.”
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin said he asked James after the news conference to elaborate on his comments; he then said that retirement is under consideration.
“When you say you have to think about things, what thread should we pull with that?” McMenamin asked James, to which James replied: “I do want to keep playing.”
James later added that he would have to think about it when he was put under more pressure about leaving next year, according to McMenamin. The Lakers star has one year left on his contract with the team after signing a two-year extension before the season.
CNN has reached out to James’ representative but has not received an immediate response.
Despite James’ efforts, the Lakers lost 113-111 against the Nuggets. (Credit: Mark J. Terrill/AP)
In the win or go home game, LeBron and company were looking to make history by coming back from 3-0 down in the series to advance to the NBA Finals.
Mission Impossible was about to get off to a great start, but the Nuggets got strong in the clutch and thwarted James’ efforts to send the game into overtime.
Guarded by Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon, “King” James blew two game-saving opportunities. The first was a difficult shot, wildly wide, that he bounced off the glass. Then, with the season really on the line, Gordon blocked a floating basket from James with 1.1 minutes remaining.
Monday’s change of heart about his retirement comes as a surprise after the four-time champion previously said he would like to play his final NBA season alongside his son Bronny James, in an interview with The Athletic in 2022.
“My senior year I’ll be playing with my son,” James said. “Wherever Bronny is, I’ll be there. I’d do anything to play with my son for a year. It’s not about the money at that point.”
Despite the loss and his post-game comments, James’ performance in Game 4 showed that the 20-year veteran could easily continue his stellar career, to play with Bronny, if he wanted to.
LeBron played 48 minutes, scored 40 points on 15 of 25 shooting, grabbed 10 rebounds and distributed nine assists, and at 38 years old he left everything on the court in a complete performance.
However, as so often in his long career, LeBron’s individual brilliance wasn’t enough and the Nuggets advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history without losing a game in the series.
Jokić had another standout series for Denver, and the two-time regular season MVP was awarded the Magic Johnson trophy for Western Conference Finals MVP.
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić won the series Most Valuable Player trophy. (Credit: Ashley Landis/AP)
In the fourth game, the Joker shined with 30 points, 14 boards and 13 assists. The latest in a long line of triple-doubles also meant Jokić broke Wilt Chamberlain’s 1967 record for most triple-doubles in a tie playoffs: the Serbian star added his eighth of the postseason.
“I think he’s showing other people nationally that he’s real. That what he does is real. MVPs are real. Triple-doubles are real,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said of his star. “He’s a great player; respect him. Stop cutting his knees. He’s a great player and give him the respect he deserves.”
The Nuggets can already look forward to the NBA Finals waiting to see who wins between the Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals.
2023-05-23 13:36:00
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