Lakers superstar LeBron James expressed uncertainty about his NBA future in the immediate aftermath of his unprecedented 23rd NBA season.
And he maintained that feeling in a recent discussion about his playing career.
During the latest episode of his “Mind the Game” podcast, which he co-hosts with NBA legend Steve Nash, James reiterated that he needs time to think about what he’ll do entering an offseason where he’ll be an unrestricted free agent.
“I’m still in the moment of just taking my time,” James said. “I haven’t even really thought about it too much. Obviously, I understand that I’m a free agent and I can control my own destiny — being here with [the Lakers] for a foreseeable future or if it’s going somewhere else.
“But like, I haven’t even really even got to that point. I haven’t even taken my family vacation yet, which is going to happen after Memorial Day. That’s kind of the thing at the forefront of my mind. But, I think at some point in June, late June, as July rolls around, free agency starts to get going and as July rolls around and maybe into August, we start to kind of get a feel of what my future may look like.”
James reiterated his family will be a priority in his decision. He and his wife, Savannah, have three kids: Lakers guard Bronny, 21; Arizona Wildcats guard Bryce, 18; and Zhuri, 12.
“It’s very important,” he said. “I mean, 1A and 1B, is [what] do I feel comfortable doing with my career? But also with my family, how do they feel about whatever decision that I’m able to come up with and make? And that’s a joint decision as well. It’s 1A and 1B. I don’t think one is higher than the other.”
James is coming off a two-year, $101.4 million contract with the Lakers that included a $52.6 million salary for 2025-26.
The options James will mull over are retirement or play a record-extending 24th NBA season either after re-signing with the Lakers or signing with another team.
“If it’s continuing to play the game that I love, which I know I can still give so much to the game and play at a high level, or if it’s not,” James said, “but I have not gotten to that point yet. When I get there, it’d be fun to kind of see what the future could hold. Either if it’s, like I said, in another NBA arena for another year or not.”
James reaffirmed if he returns for a 24th season, it’ll be with a franchise where winning is the priority.
“Winning is most important,” James said. “Because you want to be excited about going to work every day. And being around a group of guys that feel the same way and try not to take steps backward. Understanding the season is a marathon, or whatever the case may be. But those building blocks throughout the course of the season is what matters when you get to the sprint, which is now, the postseason.
“I’m not going anywhere it’s a start over at Year 24. I’m done with that.”
James is coming off averaging 20.9 points (51.5% shooting, 31.7% on 3-pointers), 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds in 60 regular-season games (career-low 33.2 minutes).
He upped his averages to 23.2 points (45.9% shooting, 32.7% on 3-pointers), 7.3 assists and 6.7 rebounds in the Lakers’ 10 playoff games (38.4 minutes) before they were swept by the Thunder in the second round.
James missed the first 14 regular-season games because of sciatica he started dealing with last summer. He also entered the 2025 offseason dealing with a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his left knee that he suffered in the season-ending Game 5 loss to the Timberwolves in the first round of last year’s playoffs.
“I had a couple of bumps and bruises to end the season, but I think we can both agree that an offseason without rehab is a success after a long season,” James said to Nash. “I’ll take it.”
