LeBron James’s future is up in the air yet again.
On Monday, the Thunder completed a sweep of the Lakers with a 115–110 win in Los Angeles to advance to the conference finals. After the game, the 41-year-old—who is not under contract for next season—was asked about his future.
“I don’t know what the future holds for me,” James told reporters. He added that he will “recalibrate with my family and talk with them, and spend some time with them” in the coming weeks before coming to a decision.
James has floated retirement in recent years, but has continued to return to the Lakers. This season marked his eighth in Los Angeles—his longest continuous stretch with one team. He was not offered an extension last summer after picking up his $52.6 million player option.
After he opted in, James’ agent, Rich Paul, told ESPN that he and his client were watching the Lakers’ moves as the team looked to build around Luka Dončić.
“We understand the difficulty in winning now while preparing for the future,” Paul said in June 2025. “We do want to evaluate what’s best for LeBron at this stage in his life and career. He wants to make every season he has left count, and the Lakers understand that, are supportive and want what’s best for him.”
James may wait to make a decision to see how the rest of the league’s landscape unfolds. Lakers star guard Austin Reaves is also a free agent and is eligible for a five-year extension worth $241 million. Reaves played just 51 games, but averaged a career-high 23.3 points per game. Rotation players including Rui Hachimura, Jaxson Hayes, and Luke Kennard are also free agents while Marcus Smart and DeAndre Ayton have player options.
And what about James himself? Does he plan to still command one of the league’s highest salaries at his age? Or would he take a discount to join a title contender, in Los Angeles or elsewhere?
Bronny James, LeBron’s teammate and oldest son, was asked about his father’s future after Monday’s loss.
“I have no clue,” Bronny told reporters. “I’m not going to lie to you. He looks like he can play another however many years, but he’s been in league for longer than he’s been out of league. It’s insane. I think he should think about it, and whatever he feels happy with, do that.”
Dončić was asked if he plans to try and recruit James and Reaves to return. He missed the entire postseason due to a hamstring strain he suffered in April and was instrumental in Smart signing with the team the previous offseason.
“We’ll see,” Dončić said. “Can’t tell you nothing.”
Giannis Offers Now Being Taken
One domino that could impact James’s future is what happens with Giannis Antetokounmpo.
On Monday, ESPN reported that the Bucks are now listening to trade offers on their franchise player, who has spent his entire 13-year career in Milwaukee. Antetokounmpo’s future with the Bucks has been in doubt throughout the NBA season as the team failed to compete for a playoff spot while injuries limited the 6-foot-10 forward to just 36 games.
The news came days after Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam said he wanted Antetokounmpo’s situation resolved before June’s draft.
“I just think before the draft is a natural time,” Haslam told reporters. “Because if Giannis does play somewhere else, we’ve got to have a lot of assets. That’s [GM Jon Horst’s] job to do. And if he’s here, then you build the team differently.”
Next season, Antetokounmpo will be in the last year of his current contract. In October he is eligible to sign a four-year extension worth $275 million, which will play a major factor in his trade market.
Bucks owner Wes Edens previously said in March that Antetokounmpo would be traded if he doesn’t sign an extension this summer.
Teams are unlikely to move a treasure trove of assets for the 10-time All-Star given his health and contractual status.
The Bucks and Knicks discussed a deal for Antetokounmpo in August, but the talks never grew serious. The 31-year-old would likely want a say in where he’s traded to, which other stars such as Kevin Durant have had in the past.
“Giannis has brought Milwaukee its second championship and the first in 50 years,” Haslam told reporters last week. “He’s a phenomenal player. He’s a phenomenal person. He’s arguably one of the best basketball players in the world and we will do what’s best for Giannis and what’s best for the organization. We don’t know whether Giannis will stay with us or not, but we’ll work through that with Giannis in the coming weeks.”
