Scott: I did not expect LeBron James to make a cameo offer at the end of the season, leaving his future a bit up in the air with a few things to think about. If you talk to anyone in the league, most people think LeBron will eventually come back next season with the Lakers on their way to winning the title if they can.
flea: I think it was a premeditated decision to leave the cryptic breadcrumbs he left at the end of that press conference. I was there in first grade, rewatching it a few times on YouTube and checking it out like the movie pauses, rewinds, and considers his relationships with some reporters. I think he was hinting at it throughout the press conference, that he won’t be talking about next season.
He was asked if this team would be the contender for next season, and he said he hadn’t even thought about next season yet. I asked him a similar question to the one that concluded the press conference, and he told me, “I don’t think about my seasons. I don’t review them. This is what you guys have to do.” I will review them when my career is done. To go this route at the end of the press conference and say he has a lot to think about regarding his future in basketball.
As I reported on The Athletic, everyone I’ve spoken to about the Lakers is anticipating his return. The Lakers are planning themselves with the mindset that LeBron will return. I pinned it to a mailbag, we did about 10 percent that it didn’t come back because of retirement or playing for another team, but that could be a little high.
I thought the lyrics Jay-Z was quoting were fun. It was off the album as Jay-Z was retiring at the time and took a little break, and has come back and dropped multiple albums since. I don’t know if this is LeBron hinting that he needs a few months off or an off season. He might play for Jordan, retire for a year, and then come back to play for Brunei in the 2024-25 season.
I think it was just the stressful thing and the heat of the moment. We’ve seen LeBron come up again and again in elimination games. For him to drop 40 points near a triple-double and the Lakers still drift, I’m sure part of him is grappling with his basketball death. Nine times out of 10, LeBron has won that game for his team.
For him, I think he weighed a lot at the time. We know LeBron is very calculated and likes to be specific on certain things. We also know that he loves drama, and his Instagram story is kind of fueling up by adding more intrigue to what he’s going to do.
My reading of the situation is that I expect him to come back. I know most people on the team expect that, and I think that sorts things out. In the end, it’s too good to retire at this point. I think for the great ones, you will rarely see them out while they still have plenty in the tank. I suspect LeBron will play at least another year, if not a couple more.
Scott: It was definitely a taxing year for him mentally and physically. The most important thing for me is that when he’s healthy, he’s still one of the best players in the NBA. I think this is probably about a little bit of leverage. Kyrie Irving It was in the Crypto Arena – and if you Angelo Russell Preparing for a game, there must be something to look at and see Kyrie there as Kyrie and LeBron shake hands – and some wondered if this was a pressure game to get the Lakers to make a move to get Irving.
I’ve heard there is no truth to any reports that Irving has a handshake deal with Dallas on a new four-year maximum contract with a player option at this time. Not to say he won’t be back in Dallas. They certainly have every incentive to keep him after trading in his favor and the financial resources to make it the best possible offer, but nothing has been done yet.