LeBron James to consult wife Savannah James and support group regarding retirement
LeBron James is headed for an early offseason after the LA Lakers were eliminated by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2025 NBA playoffs. James has a player option for next season, but he will consult his wife, Savannah James, and the rest of his family regarding his future.
Speaking to reporters after the Lakers' 103-96 loss in Game 5 on Wednesday, "King James" was asked about the possibility of retirement. He's still among the best and most popular players in the league at the age of 40, but has shown signs of slowing down in the past few seasons.
However, LeBron hasn't decided on anything and will have to speak to Savannah and his family before making it. His eldest son, Bronny, is signed to the Lakers, while his second son, Bryce, is set to attend Arizona later this year. His only daughter, Zhuri, is in fifth grade and has an interest in volleyball.
"I don’t have an answer to that," James said. "I'll sit down with my wife, family and my support group and kinda just talk through it and see what happens. Just have a conversation with myself on how long I want to continue to play. I don't have an answer to that, to be honest. We'll see."
LeBron James has one year left in his current contract with the LA Lakers. It's a player option worth $52,627,153. If he opts out, he'll be an unrestricted free agent and could sign with any team he wants.
The Lakers are heading for a serious overhaul this offseason, not just because of their first-round loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, but due to Luka Doncic. They acquired Doncic back in February, knowing that their roster was not built for him.
With this season already over, the purple and gold could start to surround "Luka Magic" with players that fit his style of play. James might not fit into the equation, but his work ethic and discipline on his body need to rub off on Doncic before retiring.
LeBron James comments on JJ Redick's first year as Lakers head coach
JJ Redick led the LA Lakers to their first 50-win campaign since the 2019-20 NBA season. However, they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs despite being the third seed. LeBron James had nothing but praise for the rookie coach after Game 5.
"I thought he handled it extremely well," James said. "He just learned every single day. He held us accountable, he pushed us."
Redick is being criticized by fans for not using Jaxson Hayes in Game 5, wherein Rudy Gobert was dominating.
