Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James’ agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Group, played coy when NBA writer Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com asked him if James would retire this summer.
“I have an expectation just as you do,” Paul said. “We’ll see.”
After the Lakers lost Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals to the Denver Nuggets, James hinted that he might retire this offseason. The four-time MVP is 38 years old.
“We’ll see what happens going forward,” James said. “I don’t know. I’ve got a lot to think about, to be honest. Just for me personally going forward with the game of basketball, I’ve got a lot to think about.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: LeBron James & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
James has a torn tendon in his right foot and the NBA’s all-time leading scorer may need surgery this summer, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. If LeBron has surgery, he could be sidelined for two months.
“Lakers superstar LeBron James played the last few months with a torn tendon in his foot that could require surgery this offseason, league sources confirmed to The Athletic,” Charania wrote. “James will undergo further evaluations, but a surgery that could sideline him for two months during the offseason is among the possibilities, sources indicated. If surgery is required, James would be expected to recover by the start of training camp next season.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: LeBron James & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
James suffered his foot injury on February 26 against the Dallas Mavericks. Two doctors told The King to undergo season-ending surgery, but James opted not to.
LeBron signed a two-year extension with the Lakers last summer. He has a player option for the 2024-25 season. James’ comments after the Nuggets series were the first time he’s talked about retiring. However, according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN, the four-time Finals MVP is not expected to retire this offseason.
“Beyond James’ retirement decision — which could be a nonissue, with a source close to James telling ESPN on Thursday that he believes the Lakers star will indeed be back for season No. 21 and fulfill his contract — the biggest question facing the Lakers this offseason is figuring out what to do at point guard,” McMenamin wrote.
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