Will He Play a 24th Season? James: Key is Whether I Still Pursue Top Performance
After the Los Angeles Lakers were swept out of the NBA playoffs, star player LeBron James stated he needs time to consider his future. The key to whether he will play a 24th season is his willingness to continue training hard and pursuing top-level performance.
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- 📰 Published: May 12, 2026 at 16:50
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- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 13, 2026 at 02:10 (9h 8m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, Los Angeles, 11th, comprehensive foreign report) After the Los Angeles Lakers were swept out of the NBA playoffs Western Conference semifinals by the Oklahoma City Thunder today, Lakers star LeBron James stated that he will need time to consider his future, whether to continue playing for a 24th season. The focus of his consideration is whether he is still willing to commit to hard training and pursue the highest level of performance.
LeBron James, 41, delivered a strong performance as usual today, scoring 24 points and grabbing 12 rebounds, but it was not enough to prevent the Lakers from losing 110-115 to the Thunder, being swept 4-0 in the best-of-seven series.
According to AFP, the four-time NBA champion and 22-time All-Star superstar's contract with the Lakers has expired, and he will enter the market as a free agent during the offseason, with his future movements full of uncertainty.
Some reports indicate that James intends to re-sign with the Lakers for his 24th season in the NBA. Other sources suggest he might consider moving to another team or ultimately choosing retirement.
After the game, James did not reveal much about his future plans. "I don't know what my future holds."
"Obviously, at least for now, tonight, I have a lot of time. I'm going home to rethink with my family, discuss with them, and spend some time with my family. When the time comes, everyone will naturally know what decision I've made."
He pointed out that whether he continues to play depends on whether he is still willing to commit to the daily grind of pursuing top performance.
James said: "For me, it's about the process—if I can still wholeheartedly love that feeling of getting to the arena five and a half hours before the game to start preparing."
Regardless of his final decision, James believes that with the countless milestones and records he has set in his career, he no longer needs to prove anything. "I have nothing left to prove in this league."
"I've done everything I needed to do, seen everything I needed to see. Now it's just about competing hard and striving for a championship, that's my motivation." (Compiler: Hsu Chung-che) 1150512
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(Central News Agency, Los Angeles, 11th, comprehensive foreign report) After the Los Angeles Lakers were swept out of the NBA playoffs Western Conference semifinals by the Oklahoma City Thunder today, Lakers star LeBron James stated that he will need time to consider his future, whether to continue playing for a 24th season. The focus of his consideration is whether he is still willing to commit to hard training and pursue the highest level of performance.
LeBron James, 41, delivered a strong performance as usual today, scoring 24 points and grabbing 12 rebounds, but it was not enough to prevent the Lakers from losing 110-115 to the Thunder, being swept 4-0 in the best-of-seven series.
According to AFP, the four-time NBA champion and 22-time All-Star superstar's contract with the Lakers has expired, and he will enter the market as a free agent during the offseason, with his future movements full of uncertainty.
Some reports indicate that James intends to re-sign with the Lakers for his 24th season in the NBA. Other sources suggest he might consider moving to another team or ultimately choosing retirement.
After the game, James did not reveal much about his future plans. "I don't know what my future holds."
"Obviously, at least for now, tonight, I have a lot of time. I'm going home to rethink with my family, discuss with them, and spend some time with my family. When the time comes, everyone will naturally know what decision I've made."
He pointed out that whether he continues to play depends on whether he is still willing to commit to the daily grind of pursuing top performance.
James said: "For me, it's about the process—if I can still wholeheartedly love that feeling of getting to the arena five and a half hours before the game to start preparing."
Regardless of his final decision, James believes that with the countless milestones and records he has set in his career, he no longer needs to prove anything. "I have nothing left to prove in this league."
"I've done everything I needed to do, seen everything I needed to see. Now it's just about competing hard and striving for a championship, that's my motivation." (Compiler: Hsu Chung-che) 1150512
Choose to stand with facts. Your every sponsorship is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency 'First-hand News' APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.