Thunder Lakers Basketball

LeBron James says he has no idea whether his 24-point performance in the Los Angeles Lakers’ second-round playoff loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder was the final game of his NBA career. The top scorer in league history stuck to the plan he has taken into the past several summers when he declined to announce his future immediately after the Lakers’ final postseason defeat. He hasn’t ruled out retirement or a return to the Lakers, and he didn’t speculate about moving to another team as he contemplates the possibility of an unprecedented 24th NBA season.

LeBron James has options. He could stay with the Los Angeles Lakers. He could decide to join another team. He could even retire and end the longest career in NBA history. He knows all this. He just doesn’t know the answer. His 23rd season ended Monday night when the Lakers were eliminated by the Oklahoma City Thunder. At 41, James likely doesn’t have many years left to play — if any. And now he’ll start the process of figuring out what he wants to do, what his family wants him to do and what’s best for all parties involved.