During an interview with NBA writer Mark Medina of Sportskeeda, Los Angeles Lakers owner Jeanie Buss talked about LeBron James’ decision to come back for his 21st season.
LeBron hinted at retirement after the Lakers got swept by the Denver Nuggets in the 2023 Western Conference Finals. However, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer announced at the 2023 ESPY Awards that he’ll be playing next season.
“My dad [Jerry Buss] told me many times that no decision should be made after a loss in the playoffs,” Buss said. “You give yourself time and space to reflect on things and not make any decisions in those kinds of moments. It was exactly how we treated LeBron – it was to give him his space and time that he needed to reflect and make his decision as to what is right for him.”
LeBron signed a two-year extension with the Lakers last summer. He has a player option for the 2024-25 season. The King averaged 28.9 points, 8.3 rebounds and 6.8 assists last season while shooting 50.0% from the field, 32.1% from beyond the arc and 76.8% from the free-throw line.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: LeBron James, Jeanie Buss & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
LeBron then put up 24.5 points, 9.9 boards and 6.5 assists per game in the 2023 playoffs against the Memphis Grizzlies, Golden State Warriors and Nuggets. The four-time MVP and four-time Finals MVP was still one of the best players in the world despite being 38 years old.
“Again, it was about giving him his space and letting him make his decision,” Buss said. “But with the way he played last season, there was to me no reason for him to retire. But I can’t make up his mind. He has a contract. If he does play in the NBA, he’s a Laker. That part, I knew. But you can’t force somebody to play if they don’t want to play. It was really his decision to make.”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: LeBron James & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
The Lakers re-signed D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura, guaranteed Jarred Vanderbilt’s 2023-24 salary and signed Gabe Vincent, Taurean Prince, Cam Reddish and Jaxson Hayes this summer. General manager Rob Pelinka said during Summer League in Las Vegas that LeBron and Anthony Davis have recovered from the respective foot ailments they suffered and played through last season.
LeBron missed 13 straight games from late February until late March because of a torn tendon in his right foot. Meanwhile, Davis missed 20 straight games from mid-December until late January with a bone spur and stress reaction in his right foot. Neither LeBron nor Davis underwent surgery.
LeBron can become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2024 and sign with the team his son, Bronny, gets drafted by. It will be fascinating to see if that happens since no father has played with or against his son in the league.
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