LeBron James drops new retirement hint and gushes over Luka Doncic

LeBron James and Luka Doncic once again proved to be a decisive duo, scoring 30 points apiece as the Los Angeles Lakers rallied on the road to beat the New Orleans Pelicans 111-103 on Tuesday night at the Smoothie King Center. The Lakers trailed by seven entering the fourth quarter but surged late to improve to 13-0 in close games this season, extending their winning streak to three.

“You know, the fourth quarter is winning time, and we have to make our mark as soon as that period starts,” James said in his postgame interview with Spectrum SportsNet. “We can’t let the quarter get away from us. We were kind of playing against the numbers, but it was a good start to the fourth for our group, and we were able to withstand their push.”

Defense sets the tone late

James reiterated a familiar postseason mantra, defense wins championships, and the Lakers backed it up when it mattered most. New Orleans was held to just 17 points in the fourth quarter, while Los Angeles poured in 32 to close out the win. The victory kept the Lakers third in the Western Conference with a 23-11 record.

“You’ve got to be communicating throughout the entire possession,” James said. “You can make up for mistakes when you’re talking, when things break down. I thought we did a good job helping each other in the fourth. Obviously, Trey Murphy is a great player, he got free a couple of times, but for the most part we were body to body and we finished possessions with defensive rebounds in the second half.”

Praise for Luka Doncic

Doncic once again made his presence felt in crunch time. He and James combined for 18 points in the final 12 minutes, including a tough, off-balance 3-pointer from Doncic that fueled the Lakers’ 13th comeback win of the season. The shot did not go unnoticed by his superstar teammate.

“Especially in games that tight, he does it all the time,” James said. “There’s not a single shot on the floor that we think he can’t make, whether there are 24 seconds on the shot clock or it’s at the buzzer. We know it’s Luka Magic for a reason.”

Every game could be LeBron’s last

At 41, James is playing his 23rd NBA season, and it could be his final one if he chooses not to return next year. For the first time in his Lakers tenure, he did not extend his contract beyond the current season, leaving his future beyond this year uncertain, including whether he stays in Los Angeles or explores other options in 2027.

With that reality looming, James said he is taking nothing for granted, especially the connection with fans, whether at home or on the road.

“I just try to give the fans my love and my passion for the game whenever I get a chance to come out here and play,” James said. “Like you said, I don’t know how many more opportunities I’ll have to play in front of fans, whether it’s on the road or at home. It’s humbling. I’m grateful to opposing fans for appreciating the way I play, and hopefully I can continue to perform and give that back to them whenever I’m on the floor.”

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