The Oklahoma City Thunder survived a wild fourth quarter and eliminated the Los Angeles Lakers with a 115-110 victory Monday night to complete a second-round sweep.
Now, the biggest question surrounding the NBA suddenly shifts toward LeBron James.
Could this have been James’ final game in a Lakers uniform? Could this have been his final NBA game ever?
8x All-Star 7x All-NBA 2020 NBA champion 2020 Finals MVP 2023 NBA Cup champion 2023 NBA Cup MVP 2020 assist title
542 total games played 319-223 record (.589 win pct.) 6 playoff appearances 7 playoff series wins
Top five in Lakers
The 41-year-old star has not officially announced retirement plans, but his contract is set to expire this offseason and speculation surrounding his future has only intensified after Los Angeles’ playoff exit.
James finished Game 4 with 24 points, 12 rebounds and three assists in 40 minutes. However, the Lakers came up short late after missed opportunities in the final seconds.
Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves helped keep the Lakers alive with a great second half, but Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Ajay Mitchell eventually delivered the final blow to end Los Angeles’ season.
Now, attention immediately turns toward what comes next for James.
The four-time NBA champion has repeatedly said he still loves competing and previously left the door open to playing a 24th NBA season. However, retirement speculation has continued to grow over the past year, especially as questions about the Lakers’ long-term direction continue to surface.
As he walked off the court Monday night, the entire NBA world was left wondering if this was the last time LeBron James would ever step on an NBA court.
LeBron James Still Could Return to Los Angeles Lakers
The simplest outcome still remains James returning to Los Angeles.
Even after getting swept, the Lakers still have several pieces capable of competing in the Western Conference. If Luka Dončić had been healthy for this playoff run, things could have been different in this series.
James also continued to produce at a high level throughout the postseason despite being 41 years old. He averaged over 23 points per game per game across 10 games this postseason.
There is also the reality that James has built enormous business, family and lifestyle ties in Los Angeles during his Lakers tenure. Returning for one final season while allowing Dončić and the younger core to carry more of the nightly burden could still make plenty of sense for both sides.
CBS Sports’ Sam Quinn even labeled the Lakers as the most likely landing spot for James if he continues playing next season. He gave Los Angeles a 35% chance of retaining the future Hall of Famer.
LeBron James Could Retire or Join Another Team
For the first time in James’ legendary career, retirement genuinely feels like a realistic possibility.
James has openly discussed the physical toll of continuing to play into his 40s and recently admitted he still deals with lingering effects from previous injuries.
CBS Sports also reported that retirement now appears firmly “on the table” as James heads into free agency.
“When I know, you guys will know,” James said earlier this year regarding his future.
If he decides the Lakers are no longer positioned to seriously contend for another title, a move elsewhere could also become very real.
Quinn mentioned a potential return to the Cleveland Cavaliers or a move to the Golden State Warriors to team up with Stephen Curry.
While all of these possibilities remain on the table, the NBA world now waits to see what LeBron James decides to do next.
With four championships, four MVPs and one of the greatest careers in sports history, if Monday night ultimately becomes his final NBA game or simply his final game in a Lakers uniform, it would mark the end of one of basketball’s most iconic eras.
Lakers’ LeBron James Playoff Exit Sparks Major Career Questions