LeBron James reportedly could still retire at end of season, return to Lakers or play elsewhere in 2026-27

It doesn’t look like a farewell tour will signal the beginning of the end of LeBron James’ illustrious NBA career.

The four-time league MVP and four-time league champion isn’t interested in one, anyway, according to The Athletic’s Dan Woike and Sam Amick, who published a report Friday detailing the Los Angeles Lakers superstar’s potential next steps and the uncertainty about which one he’ll take.

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James, 41, is reportedly undecided about his future. It could still include a retirement after this season, per The Athletic’s report, which cited team and league sources who spoke to the outlet about James anonymously.

After making his 22nd All-Star team in his NBA-record 23rd season, though, James reportedly could very well keep playing, either with the Lakers or elsewhere.

LeBron James started all 60 of the games he played this season, his 23rd in the NBA. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

(Sean M. Haffey via Getty Images)

James clearly still has a high-level impact on the game. He’s the reigning Western Conference Player of the Week, after all. Granted he was starring against a Golden State Warriors team that was resting Stephen Curry, a Phoenix Suns team that didn’t have Devin Booker and a ghastly Utah Jazz squad, but James averaged 24 points, 9.7 assists, 6 rebounds and 3 steals over those three wins to round out the regular season.

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He returned to the forefront of the Lakers’ nucleus after thriving in a complementary role for an L.A. group that had been headlined by standout guards Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves.

Unfortunately for the Lakers, both Dončić and Reaves are out “indefinitely,” according to head coach JJ Redick, meaning James will likely need a Herculean effort to propel the No. 4 seeded Lakers past the No. 5 seeded Houston Rockets to the Western Conference semifinals.

But, even if the Lakers suffer a first-round playoff exit, the promise of what the team can be with Dončić, Reaves and James could encourage James to re-up in L.A., where general manager Rob Pelinka has said he’d “love if LeBron’s story would be to retire as a Laker.”

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/article/lebron-james-reportedly-could-still-retire-at-end-of-season-return-to-lakers-or-play-elsewhere-in-2026-27-232808107.html

Author : Andy Backstrom

Publish date : 2026-04-17 23:28:00

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