LeBron to leave LA Lakers? NBA icon wont comment on future after playoff loss to Denver Nuggets

A year ago, James had sparked speculation he could retire after the Lakers were swept 4-0 by Denver in the Western Conference finals, confirming to reporters he was considering walking away from the sport.

On Monday, questions about James’ future dominated the postgame press conference in Denver after a disappointing end to the 21st season of a glittering career.

Asked if Monday’s defeat could have been his final appearance in a Lakers uniform, James smiled before replying: “I’m not going to answer that.”

James, who has a year left on his Lakers contract but reportedly has an opt-out clause that leaves him free to join other teams, said he had not given serious thought to his next steps.

“I just want to get home to the family, honestly,” James said. “I’ll start looking at the schedule.

“One of my boys is just trying to decide if he’s going to enter the [NBA] draft or go back to school, I’ve got another kid playing ball, my daughter’s playing volleyball. And my wife is doing so many great things. So it’s about family right now.

“And then in a couple of months I gotta go to [Las] Vegas for [Olympics] training camp. So I’m gonna rest my body for USA Basketball. That’s kind of the initial thoughts.”

James has previously talked about prolonging his NBA career to play alongside eldest son, Bronny, if he eventually enters the league.

James, though, played down that possibility on Monday and added that he had not “given it much thought lately”.

“Obviously I’ve thought about it in the past but at the end of the day the kid has to do what he wants to do … he will decide what he wants to do and how he wants his career to go,” he said.

Lakers defensive stalwart Anthony Davis, meanwhile, said he had no inkling of what James might decide to do next season.

“He’s been in this position numerous times in his career where he had to make a decision, for himself and his family,” Davis said. “And I’ll be right there supporting him whatever he decides to do.

“I don’t know but I’m pretty sure he’ll come and talk to me and tell me what’s going on before it becomes public.

“Obviously it’s been a great five seasons. If he does decide to come back, this is not where we want to be – over in the first round. We want to be a championship contender.”

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tK%2FMqWWcp51kwLG70a1mm5mjoLK1rsClo2iZoqm2pLjEaGprbmBufXR7y56Zq6eeYrmmrdWeZKWZXaGurLHRrGSnmpFitqS7zWauqKakYrCwucyepa1llqrBtr7EZpifrJWnerG4wLKmn55doby0v4ydnKeulad6r8HGoJytqw%3D%3D