Lakers News: Is LeBron James Already Hedging On Potential Retirement Plan?
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Despite threatening to retire on Monday with his 2022-23 season officially in the rearview, Los Angeles Lakers All-NBA small forward LeBron James certainly doesn't seem married to that approach to his future.
He indicated in an extensive postgame conversation with Dave McMenamin of ESPN that he was planning on checking the status of his injured right foot tendon, which kept him out for a month near the end of the regular season and appeared to sap him of his typical athleticism during the postseason.
James added to McMenamin that he expected some of his burst would return with a full offseason of healing, be that surgery or just rest -- should he opt to continue his career.
"I'm still better than 90% of the NBA," James told McMenamin. "Maybe 95."
That seemed to be as close as we'll get to an acknowledgement that the better player's team won on Monday. Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic has emerged as probably the best player in these playoffs, and with two of the last three MVP awards to his credit, is clearly a tier above James, himself a former four-time MVP during his prime.
To be clear, the Lakers still want James in town. He's set to earn a combined $97.6 million over the next two seasons on the court. He does have a player option for 2024-25.
The 38-year-old's playoff numbers through three rounds this season took a moderate efficiency dip from their previous levels, but considering how astronomic those levels were and his advanced age and minutes, the output was pretty incredible all the same. In 16 games, James averaged 24.5 points on .498/.264/.761 shooting splits, 9.9 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.1 blocks a night.
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