LeBron: ‘I don’t have the answer’ to questions about his future after Lakers’ NBA playoffs exit

Liberon James He was not ready to make any decisions about his future in the painful moments immediately after 22 years The American Professional League The season ended with Los Angeles LakersThe director of the first round.

“I have no answer,” James said on Wednesday night when asked about the time he will continue to play. ))

The 40 -year -old James has not provided any public indicator that he is considering retirement this summer, but Lakers fans will get their breath until the best scorer in the history of the American Professional League is his official plans.

James did not make any hints after recording 22 points, seven rebound balls and six passes in Lakers loss 103-96 to Minnesota.

James said: “It is up to me if I would continue to play, or for how long will I continue to play,” James said. “It is up to me in the end, so it has nothing to do with anyone else.”

Most observers believe that the four -time champion is planning to return to the twenty -third season, which would break the record of the length of the American Professional League, which is currently sharing with Vince Carter. He is also 49 games in the normal season behind Robert Parish, who holds the US Professional League record with 1611 games played. James has already holds the record in the professional qualifying games league with 292.

But his seventh season with Lakers has ended yet Timberwolves4-1 Victory Series. Los Angeles did not build a profitable dynamic quickly to reach the middle of the season Luca Densic In Anthony Davis’s seismic trade.

James Lakers has advanced in the post -season only once in the five years since his championship in the Florida bubble – but if James returns, he returns to a team that has been completely reshaped about his new partnership with Doncic.

James and Donesic played only 21 games together after the deal, and that was not enough to increase their possible teamwork to the maximum. Another whole year together, their partnership can raise huge levels, and James appears to be fascinated by the possibility of a whole or more playing one or more alongside the Slovenian star who described him as an active favorite player.

James said: “Anyless time you are a great acquisition in the middle of the season, it will always be difficult, not only for me, but for (Austin Reef) and the rest of the group,” James said. “There were times that we have not seen well, but I think we discovered that later this season, and the more games we have. I still don’t think we had enough time for the network, but while we had, we thought we had finished the normal season very well in the West.”

Doncic is not the only teammate to force James to return: his 20 -year -old son, Brunei, starts in an amazing strong rising season with Lakers, in which he became the first father and son to play together in the history of the American Professional League.

Brunei James He hopes to transfer a bigger role alongside his father next season after getting intermittent playing time this year. Liberon said that the opportunity to work alongside Brunei this season was “No. 1” for his professional life.

[MORE: Timberwolves eliminate Lakers from playoffs with Game 5 win]

There are no clear contractual or financial issues on James Road: He has a player’s option for the next season, which will pay him more than $ 56.2 million. This is dangerous money to leave on the table, even for the business pole that increases a net value of more than one billion dollars.

The eighth consecutive season with Lakers will be the longest extension in his career with one team, bypassing his first seven seasons with Cleveland – although he returned for another four years and championship with Cavaliers.

James’s playing level remained high in his twenty -second season, involved in all previous concepts of basketball. Its average reached 24.4 points per game – its lowest level since its upward season, but barely – along with 8.2 passes and 7.8 rebound balls.

James remained the heart of Lakers while winning 52 games and the title of the Pacific Division despite the turmoil in the mid -season list. Each shareholder in the list of this season is under a contract for 2025-26 Dorian Fini SmithWho has the option of a player of $ 15.3 million, and an inconsistent position Jackson Hayes.

In a moment of thinking near his fortieth birthday last December, James speculated that he could continue to play at this level for five to seven years. He does not intend to adhere to this length.

Report by Associated Press.

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