The Lakers' push for postseason glory came to a close on Wednesday night, as Los Angeles dropped its Game 5 matchup against the Timberwolves, 103-96, spelling an end to its season.
The Lakers were felled by a number of factors — their lack of size put them at the mercy of Rudy Gobert, who posted the fifth-ever 20-20 game in Minnesota's playoff history.
Meanwhile, Los Angeles' stars were largely blighted by the Timberwolves' dynamic duo of Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle. LeBron James and Luka Doncic had their moments, but they looked weary and fatigued as the series wore on, particularly in its final two games. James tallied 22 points on 9-of-21 shooting, while Doncic's 28-point outburst was scuppered by a fairly inefficient 7-of-18 shooting line.
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Unsurprisingly, the Lakers' exit brought about plenty of speculation. Chief among the postgame mayhem was James' future. Los Angeles' longest-tenured player is 40, and, save for Game 3 and Game 4 flourishes, he looked every bit his age against Minnesota's spry and sprightly roster.
So, what's next for James in 2025 and beyond? Here's what he had to say about his future prospects following the conclusion of Wednesday night's match.
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LeBron James postgame press conference
James batted away questions regarding his short-term and long-term futures on Wednesday night, telling reporters he’s uncertain about what his next steps will be.
When queried on how much more he has left in the tank, James was noncommittal.
”I don’t have an answer to that,” James said postgame. “Something I’ll sit down with my family, my wife, and my support group and kinda just talk through it and see what happens. Just have conversations with myself on how long I want to continue to play.”
Lebron James hints to the press that he will be retiring from the NBA sooner then later 🐐💔pic.twitter.com/YYZJNzEg9n
— Snippd (@snippedceo) May 1, 2025
There are plenty of reasons for James to make a triumphant return to the floor in 2025-26. He’d get another chance to share the court with his son, Bronny — an opportunity he dubbed as the greatest accomplishment of his basketball career to date.
”To be able to play the game that I love and to be able to be along with my son this whole year has been one of the most gratifying and satisfying journeys I’ve ever been on.
“He has a bright future. Because not only can he play the game of basketball, he’s just a great f— kid…. And I have to say, I have a lot to do with that.”
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James also could net upwards of $50 million in contract riches next season, and the Lakers stand to move some furniture around in 2025-26, with the organization expected to make moves in the hopes of crafting a roster more amenable to Doncic — and, by proxy, James’ — needs.
James, who was tasked with manning a sort of surrogate big man role without a proper center in the lineup, appeared intrigued by the prospect of some alterations, although he stopped short of calling for them himself. After all, he remembers what happened when Anthony Davis requested some reinforcements in the paint.
“No comment,” James joked when asked if Los Angeles’ lack of a center cost it in its first-round matchup. “I never say that, because when my guy AD said what he needed, then he was gone the following week.”
Ultimately, James didn’t provide a ton of clarity on his short-term and long-term plans. He rarely has during this time of the year, waiting weeks and months before figuring out what’s his next pathway.
In terms of talent, James remains a tantalizing figure on the Lakers or any other side. Although his production might’ve tailed off slightly compared to his prime postseason figures, James still captured an All-Star appearance and landed All-NBA votes.
There’s also the case of marketing, where James has tended to be king. It’s hard to imagine James and the gaggle of companies that profit off of his performances — including Nike, ESPN, and the NBA — would sacrifice the chance to broadcast James’ send-off over the course of a season.
Ultimately, the decision lies with James in the end. He’ll have much to consider as the offseason wears on, however.
LeBron James contract
James just completed the first season of a two-year, $101,355,998 contract. He's got a player option for the 2025-26 season, which would see him nab $52,627,153 if he were to accept it.
With Doncic eligible to sign a max extension as early as this offseason, James could, theoretically, opt out and do some accounting to open up space for Doncic — and perhaps some additional supporting talent.
Nevertheless, James has a sizable deal on the table if he wants it. Only time will tell if that's what he desires in the coming few months.
| Season | Salary | Age |
| 2025-26 | $52,627,153 (Player Option) | 41 |
| 2026 | Unrestricted Free Agent | 42 |
LeBron James age
James is 40. He'll turn 41 on Dec. 30, 2025. At 40 years, 122 days, James is the oldest active player in the NBA. He's the only active quadragenarian in the league, although PJ Tucker, Chris Paul, and Taj Gibson could join him, assuming he stays in the game in 2025-26.