LeBron James, eliminated with the Los Angeles Lakers by Denver in the first round of the play-offs on Monday (4-1), saw his 21st NBA season end quickly, raising the question of the future of the “King”, at 39 years.
At least this year, the Lakers avoided the humiliation of a sweep (“sweep” in the NBA) by the Denver Nuggets. After the Western Conference final in 2023 lost 4-0, the exit was indicated to them a month earlier this year by the Colorado franchise, in the first round of the final phase (4-1).
In 17 qualifiers for the play-offs, this is only the second time that LeBron James has been eliminated in the first round.
Last year, the superstar, who has been in the NBA since 2003, cast doubt on the rest of his career. None of that this year, even if he remained vague about his desires.
“I prefer not to answer,” he said at a press conference, when asked about the possibility that he had played his last game with the Lakers.
“King” LeBron James #23 during Game 4 of his Lakers against the Denver Nuggets, in the NBA play-offs, on April 27, 2024 in Los Angeles / RONALD MARTINEZ / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
LeBron James already knows that he will at least play basketball again this summer, with the star-spangled jersey of the United States, as leader of a new “dream team” at the Paris Olympic Games (July 26-August 11), after having already won two gold medals (2008 and 2012).
As such, James has an appointment for the “Team USA” training camp on July 6 in Las Vegas, before preparation matches in Abu Dhabi then London.
One-year option with the Lakers
In the NBA, the “King” has with his current contract an option worth 51.4 million dollars (around 48 million euros) which he can activate until June 29 with the Lakers for the 2024-2025 season, or conversely become a “free agent”, to sign with another franchise.
This living basketball legend had highlighted his dream of playing in the NBA with his son Bronny James Jr. The latter, after a difficult year athletically at the University of Southern California (USC), enrolled in the 2024 draft (June 26 and 27), while remaining eligible for an additional academic year.
“In the end, the kid will do what he wants – I say kid but he’s a young man now – he will decide the path to take with his career,” said his father.
Bronny James Jr, the son of LeBron James, during a game for his university team the Trojans (USC), March 14, 2024 in Las Vegas / David Becker / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/Archives
If LeBron James stays with the Lakers, the franchise will have to change the squad around him and Anthony Davis.
“For the trade deadline (in February) we only had one first round of draft (to exchange). This summer, at the time of the draft, we will have three first rounds to propose exchanges”, indicated at the end regular season Lakers director Rob Pelinka.
Champions in 2020 in the Orlando Covid bubble, the Angelinos remain in two complicated exercises, with a passage through the perilous dams, despite a great victory during the new NBA Cup in December.
Entering the play-offs through a mouse hole, the Lakers immediately fell on the cat, Denver, reigning champion sure of his strength carried by a star at the top of his art, the Serbian Nikola Jokic.
Murray decisive
But if the Lakers are going to have nightmares, they will most likely be populated by Jamal Murray.
Already author of a decisive shot at the siren during Game 2, Murray did it again on Monday by giving the Nuggets the advantage three seconds from time, capping a spectacular fourth quarter (12 points out of 32 in total).
Jamal Murray, of the Nuggets, scores a basket despite the counter attempt by LeBron James, of the Los Angeles Lakers, during Game 5 of the play-offs between the two teams, April 29, 2024 in Denver / MATTHEW STOCKMAN / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA /AFP
With 25 points, 20 rebounds and 9 assists, Jokic brought his usual contribution, facing an excellent LeBron James (30 pts, 9 rebounds, 11 assists), who gave everything in 44 minutes of play (out of 48).
Denver will face the Minnesota Timberwolves in the next round, who swept Phoenix (4-0).
Earlier, the Oklahoma City Thunder had also validated their ticket to the conference semi-finals with a 97-89 success over New Orleans, for a perfect first round (4-0).
OKC, young team number 1 in the regular season rankings in the West, returns to this level for the first time since 2016, under the orders of Mark Daigneault, named coach of the year.
In the East, Boston won on the floor of Miami (102-88) and now leads 3-1.
