LeBron James still undecided about future after Lakers' postseason exit: 'I don't know'

LeBron James and the Lakers were knocked out of the playoffs by the Thunder on Monday night. (David Crane/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images)

(MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images via Getty Images)

There has been plenty of speculation for months that James might retire at the end of the season, something that has now come for him and the Lakers. And, for plenty of reasons, retirement would make sense.

James is 41 years old, and he’s accomplished just about everything possible in the NBA. He’s a four-time NBA champion and a four-time MVP, among plenty of other accolades. He surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the league’s all-time scoring leader, and he’s both played more games and won more games than anyone else. Undoubtedly, James is one of the best to have ever played basketball.

James averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds per game this season, his 23rd in the league. He had 24 points and 12 rebounds in Monday’s loss. This season was his eighth with the Lakers, which marks his longest singular stretch with any of the three franchises he’s played for throughout his career.

James will become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, so he has the freedom to do whatever he wants. He could sign a new deal with the Lakers. He could opt to join any of the other 29 teams in the league. Or he could call it a career and move on to his next stage, whatever that may be. No choice would be wrong.

As for when that decision comes, however, is anybody’s guess.

“I haven’t even thought about that,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said about James’ future, via the OC Register’s Benjamin Royer. “Again, we’ll deal with the offseason in the offseason, which is in the next two months.”

Regardless, with the Lakers now out of the playoffs, the basketball world is waiting for James to make that announcement.