The future of Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is one of the biggest storylines of the looming offseason in the NBA, but if his recent comments are any indication, fans may have to wait a little while before learning what’s next for him.
The 41-year-old hinted during an episode of his podcast that it could be late in the summer when his future comes into focus.
“I think at some point, up in June, late June, as July roll around, free agency…gets going, and as July roll in and maybe into August, we start to kinda get a feel of what my future may look like,” James said.
James, who has spent the last eight seasons with the Lakers, is set to become a free agent this offseason. It would appear that his options this summer are to retire, return to the Lakers or join a new team.
The 22-time All-Star is the oldest active player in the league and has played more seasons than anyone else in NBA history, so no one could blame him if he opted to walk away. However, with James showing year after year that he still has juice left in the tank, it would make a lot of sense for him to continue his career and try to maximize his unbelievable longevity.
This season, James averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game while shooting 51.5 percent from the field and 31.7 percent from beyond the arc. It was a bit of a different season for him since he had to play a unique role alongside fellow stars Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves when all three were healthy, but James still found a way to be productive.
Near the end of the regular season, Doncic and Reaves both went down with injuries that sidelined them to begin the playoffs. Reaves eventually did return in the postseason, but Doncic did not. The situation forced James to carry a heavy load, and he did so admirably, averaging 23.2 points per game in the playoffs and helping the team win a series.
There are plenty of teams around the NBA that could use James, but acquiring him may prove to be tricky for many of them due to cap reasons. There are a number of unanswered questions when it comes to the veteran’s future, and it sounds like it could be months before any real clarity arrives.
