LeBron James said he is undecided on his NBA future following the Los Angeles Lakers’ 108-106 loss in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets on Monday night. “Uhhh, I’m not gonna answer that. Appreciate it,” James replied when asked if this night — an emotion-filled, competitively soaked and ultimately draining night — would be his last as a Los Angeles Laker. 

The Lakers aren’t usually a pit stop for historic greats. It’s not a guarantee, as in the case of Shaquille O’Neal becoming a journeyman after being traded from the Lakers in 2004, but that’s an extreme case. He has options, and, of course, James has leverage. He makes sure of it — that’s where the twinkle in his eye came from when he issued his hanging answer.

James’ 30 points, 11 assists, and nine rebounds showed he can still perform at a high level, and his plus-three on the evening showed the Lakers needed every ounce he could deliver out of his 39-year body in 44 minutes. But 39 will soon turn to 40, and he’ll be challenging history once again if he returns. Last year, he openly opined about the possibility of retirement following the Lakers’ run to the Western Conference finals — to the point where it took some sting out of the Nuggets’ celebration following their sweep.

So it’s on the table — it has to be, even if it’s unlikely. He can walk away completely, but with his big-picture aspirations of wanting to own a team and his never-ending but perhaps win less chase of Michael Jordan to be known as the game’s greatest ever, along with wanting to obliterate the record books, it seems more plausible he could exercise his opt-out and hit free agency, a decision he has to make before heading to Paris for the Olympic Games.

James’ son Bronny declared for the NBA draft earlier this month. He still has college eligibility if he withdraws his name by June 16. A 6-foot-4 guard, Bronny averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists over 19.4 minutes per game as a freshman at USC. He is not expected to be a first-round selection, but a team could pick him with hopes of luring his legendary father. “I got to be on the floor with Bronny,” LeBron James told ESPN in 2023. “Either in the same uniform or a match up against him … I ask him what his aspirations (are) and he says he wants to play in the NBA. So if he wants to do it, he’s got to put in the work. I’m here already, so I’m just waiting on him.”