By Paloma Chavez | Paloma Chavez is a staff writer on PEOPLE’s current events team. Before joining PEOPLE, she worked for McClatchy’s real-time team covering breaking news, crime, and internet culture.
The remarks that fueled the circulating retirement rumors come after the Oklahoma City Thunder completed their playoff sweep of the Lakers
LeBron James has fueled retirement rumors amid the end of the season.
After the Los Angeles Lakers’ playoff exit on Monday, May 11, James admitted he still doesn’t know whether he’ll return for another NBA season, fueling retirement speculation surrounding the league’s all-time leading scorer.
“I don’t know what the future holds,” James, 41, said after the season ended, adding that he plans to take time with his family before making any decisions.
He went on to say he plans to go back and “recalibrate” with his family, adding that when he decides what he’ll do, he’ll make it known to the public.
The remarks came after the Lakers lost 115-110 in their Game 4 second-round playoff game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
“Nobody has any idea what the future holds, and I don’t either,” James said on Monday, reports The Associated Press. “I’ll take time to recalibrate and look over the season and see what’s best for my future, and when I get to that point, everyone will know.”
If James decides to return, there is a possibility he could play for another team. James is set to become an unrestricted free agent after this season, reports The Athletic. He made $52.6 million during the 2025-26 season, so if he takes a pay cut to sign elsewhere next season, it would be the first of his career.
This isn’t the first time James has hinted at retiring. After the Lakers’ season-ending loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves last year, James said he wasn’t sure if he’d return for another season.
“I don’t know,” he told reporters at the time when asked how much longer he wants to play.
“I don’t have an answer to that,” he continued. “Something I’ll sit down with my family, my wife and my support group and kind of just talk through it and see what happens.”
“And just have a conversation with myself on how long I want to continue to play,” he said. “I don’t know the answer to that right now, to be honest. So we’ll see.”
During the final game of his 23rd season, James scored 24 points with 12 rebounds.
Source: people.com