LeBron James feels taken for granted by the Los Angeles Lakers and believes the organization tried to “push him out the door” with the Luka Dončić trade, according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN.
James becomes an unrestricted free agent this offseason for the first time since 2018. The future Hall of Famer guided the Lakers to the 2020 championship. He also led the franchise to the 2023 Western Conference Finals.
James joined the Lakers in 2018. Before his arrival, Los Angeles hadn’t made the playoffs since 2013.
The Lakers acquired Dončić from the Dallas Mavericks last season. Los Angeles is building around Dončić and Austin Reaves now. Reaves is expected to re-sign with Los Angeles this offseason after he declines his player option for next season.
It’s unknown if James, 41, will continue playing in the NBA. He could retire this summer since he’s the oldest active player in the association.
Along with the Lakers, James has been linked to the New York Knicks, Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers if he continues playing. James, of course, has played for his hometown Cavaliers twice.
Most people who cover the NBA believe that if James doesn’t retire this offseason, he will either re-sign with the Lakers or return to the Cavaliers for a third stint.
A 22-time All-Star, James appeared in 60 games this regular season. He averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game. The Lakers, who won 53 games in Year 2 of the JJ Redick era, had a record of 39-21 when James suited up.
Los Angeles defeated the Houston Rockets in the first round of this year’s playoffs in six games but got swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round. Reaves missed Games 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the Rockets series with his oblique injury, while Dončić missed the entire playoffs because of his hamstring injury.
After the Thunder swept the Lakers, James was asked about his future.
“I think you guys asked me about [retirement], and I’ve answered questions. I don’t think I’ve come out and been like, ‘Oh, retirement is coming,'” James said. “With my future, I don’t know, honestly. It’s obviously it’s still fresh from, obviously losing [the series]. And I don’t know. I don’t know what the future holds for me.”
A source familiar with James’ thinking told ESPN that the Lakers’ approach in how they show their interest in retaining him will be a factor.
James has appeared in 479 regular-season games and 63 playoff games with Los Angeles. He averaged 25.9 points, 7.7 rebounds and 7.9 assists per game in the regular season and 25.6 points, 9.1 rebounds and 7.6 assists per contest in the playoffs.
Lakers president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka told reporters during exit interviews that he would love for James to return next season. It will be fascinating to see what happens with arguably the greatest player in NBA history.
“We probably haven’t seen a player that has honored the game to the extent that he’s honored the game,” Pelinka said of James. “He’s given so much to his teammates, to this organization. And the thing we want to do more than anything else is honor him back. Any team, including ours, would love to have LeBron James on their roster.”
