LeBron James, one of the greatest to ever play the game, is facing a big question — what’s next? After the Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated from the NBA playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves, James admitted he’s unsure if he’ll return for another season.
A Heartbreaking End to a Long Season
The 40-year-old NBA icon, now in his 22nd season, couldn’t keep the Lakers’ title hopes alive as they fell 103-96 in Game 5 at Crypto.com Arena. The Timberwolves closed out the series 4-1, ending what many thought could be a storybook run for James.
This season, James had been chasing his fifth championship and hoping to add one more glittering achievement to his legendary career. But after the loss, his focus has shifted from the playoffs to his personal future.
LeBron: “I Don’t Know Yet”
When asked how many more seasons he sees himself playing, James was candid:
“I don’t know. It’s something that I will sit down with my family, my wife, and my support group and kind of just talk through… and have a conversation with myself on how long I want to continue to play.”
Though he signed a two-year extension with the Lakers in 2024, James made it clear he’s going to take the offseason to reflect — physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Playing with Bronny: A Dream Come True
Despite the early playoff exit, this season had a deeply personal high point for James: sharing the court with his son, Bronny James.
“Number one, for sure,” he said when asked about the highlight of the season.
“That’s not even close. To be able to play the game that I love and to be able to be alongside my son — this whole year has been one of the most gratifying, satisfying journeys I’ve ever been on.”
This historic father-son moment may be hard to top, and perhaps that’s why James is now weighing his next move so thoughtfully.
Timberwolves’ Moment of Triumph
While the Lakers are heading home, the Timberwolves are moving on — and in style. Center Rudy Gobert delivered a monster performance with 27 points and 24 rebounds, helping secure the win.
“It feels great,” Gobert said after the game. “We had a season with ups and downs, so to come here and play the way we did means a lot.”
He credited team chemistry and resilience for the series win:
“We just have a bunch of guys that want to win… we love each other. All the things we went through this season prepared us for this moment.”
Next Stop: Western Conference Semi-Finals
With the win, Minnesota advances to face either the Golden State Warriors or the Houston Rockets in the Western Conference semi-finals.
That series is still alive — the Rockets forced a Game 6 with a 131-116 win over the Warriors in Game 5.
Rockets Fight Back to Keep Hopes Alive
Led by Fred VanVleet’s 26 points, along with strong showings from Amen Thompson (25 points) and Dillon Brooks (24 points), the Rockets dominated early and never looked back.
At one point, Houston led by 31 points, forcing Warriors coach Steve Kerr to pull several starters in the third quarter to conserve energy for the next game.
“We can’t come out with that lack of defensive focus and energy and expect to beat a great team on their home floor,” said Kerr.
“They took it to us — they were awesome tonight.”
Game 6: All Eyes on San Francisco
The crucial Game 6 between the Warriors and Rockets will take place at 2:00 BST on Saturday at the Chase Center in San Francisco.
Whether or not it’s the end of the road for LeBron James, the playoffs are heating up — and the drama is just beginning.
