2 weeks ago
1 of 5 | Los Angeles Lakers guardant LeBron James (L) averaged 25.7 points per crippled this season. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
April 30 (UPI) -- LeBron James declined to perpetrate to a 22nd play aft nan Los Angeles Lakers' season-ending nonaccomplishment to nan Denver Nuggets successful nan first information of nan playoffs, telling reporters he will see nan determination this off-season.
He besides declined to reply a mobility astir if he thought nan crippled -- a 108-106 setback Monday successful Denver -- was his past successful a Lakers uniform.
"I'm not going to reply that," James said astatine a news convention wrong Ball Arena.
James, 39, totaled 30 points, 11 assists, 9 rebounds and 4 steals successful nan Game 5 loss. The Lakers mislaid nan bid 4-1 for their 2nd first-round exit successful 4 seasons.
"I conscionable want to get location to nan family, honestly," James said astatine nan conclusion of his 21st play successful nan league.
The 20-time All-Star, 19-time All-NBA selection, six-time All-Defensive Team selection, four-time MVP and four-time champion averaged 25.7 points, 8.3 assists and 7.3 rebounds per crippled complete 71 appearances during nan 2023-24 regular season. He has averaged astatine slightest 25 points per crippled each twelvemonth for nan past 20 seasons, an NBA record.
The Lakers signed nan early Hall of Famer to a two-year, $99 cardinal statement successful 2022. He has a $51.4 cardinal subordinate action for 2024-25.
James cited boy Bronny's looming determination to return to assemblage hoops aliases participate nan convention done nan 2024 NBA Draft, engagement successful different endeavors pinch his woman and girl and mentation for nan 2024 Summer Games, erstwhile asked astir his off-season calendar.
James, who antecedently said he wanted to play alongside Bronny successful nan NBA, said Monday that he hasn't "give overmuch thought lately" to that aspiration.
"At nan extremity of nan day, nan kid has to do what he wants to do," James said. "I don't moreover want to opportunity kid anymore -- nan young man -- will determine what he wants to do and really he wants his profession to go. I conscionable deliberation nan truth that we are having nan speech is beautiful cool."
James, nan NBA's all-time starring scorer, besides ranks No. 4 successful assists, No. 8 successful steals and No. 10 successful protect rebounds. His 68,455 minutes played -- including nan regular play and playoffs -- are nan astir successful NBA history.
"At immoderate point, I'll beryllium down pinch Rich [Paul], my agent, and beryllium down pinch my family and spot what's champion for my career," James said. "We will transverse that erstwhile we request to. ... It's very taxing, mentally, physically, spiritually, everything. To play this crippled alone, and to effort to play astatine a precocious level is very taxing.
"It's a batch of dedication, difficult activity and a batch of agelong hours. It's very taxing, but it's rewarding. If you emotion nan game, emotion nan process and emotion being great, you don't mind taking nan taxation connected your body."
The Team USA men will commencement training campy July 6 successful Las Vegas. James, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Joel Embiid and different prima teammates will commencement their quest for a golden badge pinch a group shape crippled against Serbia, led by Nuggets prima Nikola Jokic, connected July 28 successful Villenueve-d'Ascq, France.
James is simply a three-time Olympic medalist, including golds successful 2008 and 2012 and a bronze badge successful 2004.
St. Vincent-St. Mary High School elder LeBron James (L) drives astir a Zanesvuille defender successful Akron, Ohio, connected February 14, 2003. James is expected to beryllium nan No. 1 prime successful nan NBA draft. A mates months later, nan Cleveland Cavaliers coach was suspended because James worked retired pinch nan squad earlier he graduated from precocious school. Photo by Tom Cammett/UPI | License Photo
