His 21st career season ended like his 20th, with an elimination at the hands of the Denver Nuggets. LeBron James has really tried it all, going within one rebound of a triple double — 30 points, 9 rebounds and 11 assists with 4 steals and only one turnover — remaining on the court for 44 minutes, trying to respond blow for blow on the reigning champions’ court. As in game 2 Jamal Murray had the last word, scoring the winning basket with 4 seconds left, but James has little to blame himself forclosing his playoffs with averages of 27.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 8.8 assists, 2.4 steals and 1 block in almost 41 minutes, shooting 56.6% from the field, 38.5% from three and 74% from free throws. James had earned and then converted the two free throws with which the Lakers had tied the score with 26 seconds left, before Murray’s feat to end their season. After leaving the pitch without saying goodbye to his opponents, James answered journalists’ questions at the press conference leaving everyone in suspense as in a cliffhanger of a television series: when asked if this could be his last game with the LakersJames thought about it for a moment and then replied “I won’t answer this question. Thanks anyway” with a half smile towards the journalists. “I just want to go home to my family: My son is deciding whether to show up for the draft or go back to school. Another is playing in the AAU. My daughter started with volleyball. My wife has a thousand plans “she had said previously.” Now the focus is on the family. I have a couple of months before the training camp in Las Vegas, I need to rest before the Olympics“. His future, however, He appears to still be in Los Angeles.
The contract the Lakers can offer and Bronny’s role
In fact, a few minutes before the end of the match, an article from The Athletic illustrated James’ situation. As known, LeBron may decide not to exercise the $51.4 million option in his favor for next year, technically becoming a free agent and being able to choose a team on the market. However, the Lakers intend to offer him a new deal that can reach up to $164 million in three years, most likely a 2+1 with an option for the 2026-27 season. According to The Athletic James will play a maximum of two more seasons, arriving until 2026 when the All-Star Game will be played in Los Angeles (albeit in the new home of the Clippers), but above all LeBron intends to observe how the team handles the offseason and what kind of roster they will be able to build around him and Anthony Davis.
The piece also highlights how the Lakers are “very open” to the prospect of fulfilling James’ wish to play with his son Bronny choosing him in the Draft, most likely with the second pick number 55 they have available or moving up in the second round to get him. The owner Jeanie Buss, in fact, intends to do everything in her power to please James and make sure that he retires wearing the Lakers shirt, also because this season he has shown that he can still be someone who makes the difference, although obviously not like in his best years. “He certainly isn’t the problem here” a high-ranking Lakers executive told The Athletic. The franchise also hopes it can be the solution.
