LeBron opens up after playoff elimination: “I don’t know what the future holds”

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James admitted he is uncertain whether Monday’s loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, which completed a sweep in the Western Conference Semifinals, could mark the final game of his NBA career.

“Obviously, I don’t know,” James said after the game. “We just got done with the loss. I don’t know what the future holds. I’ll sit down with my family, my wife and my support group and kind of just talk through it and see what happens. Just have conversations with myself on how long I want to continue to play.”

A strong performance despite the loss

The four-time champion finished Game 4 with 24 points, 12 rebounds, and three assists, shooting 8-of-18 from the field.

“I gave everything I had on the floor,” James said. “I control what I can control, and I can walk away from the game saying that, you know, I gave everything to the game. Obviously, you hate to lose, but I was locked in on what we needed to do.”

“I tried to make sure my teammates were locked in as well,” he added. “Obviously, we came up a little short, but I don’t look at my season as a disappointment. That’s for sure.”

This season marked the 23rd of James’ career, an NBA record. He appeared in 60 regular-season games, one of the lowest totals of his career, after missing time earlier in the season due to injury.

“I don’t have anything left to prove in this league,” James said. “I’ve done everything. I’ve seen everything.”

“The only thing that matters to me at this point in my career is competing for championships,” he continued. “That’s always been my drive. How can I continue to compete for a championship? That’s all that matters.”

James has not confirmed whether he plans to continue playing or retire. He is currently in the final year of his two-year, $101.4 million contract and will become an unrestricted free agent this summer. Despite the uncertainty, his connection to the game remains unchanged.

“The love of the game is always going to be there,” James said. “I don’t think that will ever go away. But it’s the process. If I don’t love the process, then it’s hard for me to love the game.”

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