Everyone knew the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets series in the 2024 NBA Playoffs would be dramatic. It certainly delivered. Now, the LeBron James rumors are starting. The Nuggets took out the Lakers on Monday (April 29) with a 4-1 win in the series.
Starting the LeBron James Rumors
On Monday, LeBron James was not surprisingly asked about his future in the NBA after the Lakers’ 108-106 loss in Game 5 in their first-round playoff series against the Nuggets.
James rounded out his 21st season in the NBA with an impressive 30 points, 11 assists, 9 rebounds and four steals in that season-ending fall to Denver. Now, James, 39, says he’ll be focusing on his family and the upcoming training camp for USA Basketball before the Paris Olympics this summer.
The big question, of course, when it comes to the LeBron James rumors is whether he’ll will return to the Lakers and the NBA. He’s not giving much insight into his future in the NBA just yet.
When asked after the Lakers loss how he will decide about going into year 22 in the NBA, James said, “I don’t have an answer … to be honest. I haven’t given it much thought.” But, he said he would get together with his agent, Rich Paul, and family to discuss “what’s best for my career.”
“We’ll cross that when we need to,” James continued, when asked more about the LaBron James rumors.
So, even if James returns to the NBA for season 22, will he be with the Los Angeles Lakers or go to a different team? It could go either way.
As for more LeBron James rumors, when asked about his future with the Lakers, James said, “I’m not going to answer that.”
For James, the big date is June 29. By then, he has to decide whether to either opt into the last year of his contract with the Lakers for $51.4 million or become an unrestricted free agent.
If James becomes an unrestricted free agent, where would he go? It’s really anybody’s guess. But, I think it would be pretty wild to see James go to the Detroit Pistons and try to somehow bring that franchise back from the brink of disaster.
Aside from the LeBron James rumors, there’s lots of talk about what will happen with head coach Darvin Ham. Now that the Lakers are out of the playoffs in the first round, he’s in danger of losing his job. According to ESPN, the Lakers will decide about the coach’s future with the team in the coming days.
Ham has only been coaching the Lakers for two season. When asked to look back on those two years, he said it’s complicated.
“My mind’s all over the place right now, so that’s a great question, but maybe at some point I’ll give you an answer,” Ham said in a post-game press conference. “It’s been a hell of a two years, though, I’ll tell you that. Sitting in this seat, it’s been a hell of a two years. A lot of good things that got done, but ultimately, you want to win that ultimate prize. I know what that feels like. I had that feeling a couple of times.
“So, you want to do everything in your power to not to prevent and continue to feel this feeling we’re feeling now, the feeling of defeat,” he added. “So again, control what I can control, continue to grow and hopefully be a better coach for it.”
Other outlets are reporting that Ham’s days are certainly numbered with the Lakes. He’s in “serious peril” and some “indicate he is highly unlikely to return,” according to The Athletic.