DENVER — There was a familiar glint in LeBron James' eyes during his exit interview, not long after the familiar feeling of being ousted by the reigning kings of the postseason.
He wanted to make sure everyone wasn't hung up on every word he said, just a possibility — it was showtime at the Apollo, and the Nuggets' faithful fans' dull cheers continued into the night in Denver. It was just the back room.
“Yeah, I'm not going to answer that. I'm grateful,” James said of the night, which was an emotional, competitive and ultimately draining night, but could be his last as a Los Angeles Laker. When asked, he answered:
If anything, he thought Game 5 of the Lakers' first-round series, which LA lost 108-106, would be his last time in a Lakers uniform.
The Lakers don't usually make pit stops for historical greats. That's not a guarantee, like if Shaquille O'Neal became a journeyman after being traded from the Lakers in 2004, but that's an extreme case.
This is the franchise that was the final destination for players like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, and many others. The franchise was the only spot for Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, and Jerry West.
But James is a force of his own, and while he was on the floor Monday night to keep the Lakers in contention for the championship, he was able to get off the floor and defend himself just as he did when they once again fell short. can think about the future.
A close but cigar-less loss may satisfy many, but James made it clear he has no intention of chasing the participation trophy. In particular, the margin for one's own mistakes has decreased year by year, especially in an NBA that was once in control. I'm ready to let go of his hand and move on without him.
At least in the sense of competition.
“We lost. I'm not a participation guy. We lost. And we move forward and think about how we can be better,” James said.
He has options and of course James has influence. he is sure of it. That's where the glint in his eyes came from when he gave a hanging answer.
If there's one lasting flavor, it's James trying to rally the Lakers against a seemingly invincible champion. In fact, Denver looks pretty winnable this postseason. While this may lead some to be optimistic about James and his future with the Lakers, it could also lead to increased frustration and missed opportunities that could add to his ring count. Become.
The Lakers could have made some things really interesting if Anthony Davis' left shoulder hadn't sagged any further than James' last words. They didn't push the Nuggets into a corner. They had lost him 3-0 a few days earlier. Let's get some perspective here. But while they had control of some of these games, they couldn't close them out.
James' 30 points, 11 assists, and 9 rebounds show he can still perform at a high level, and his plus-3 on the night meant the Lakers needed every ounce they could get from the 39-year-old's body in 44 minutes. It showed that there is.
However, the 39-year-old will soon turn 40, and if he returns, he will likely try to make history once again. Last year, he publicly spoke out about his possible retirement after the Lakers reached the Western Conference Finals, to the point that it somewhat tarnished the Nuggets' post-championship celebration.
So it's on the table — it should be on the table, even if it's unlikely. He could walk away completely, but his big-picture ambitions to own the team, his never-ending but perhaps winless pursuit of Michael Jordan, known as the greatest player in the history of the game, and his desire to erase the record. have a desire. It is more plausible that he will exercise his opt-out and become a free agent, but this is a decision he will have to make before heading to Paris for the Olympics.
Decision, part of Quattro?
At least for now, James insisted Tuesday afternoon that he hasn't made a decision either way.
You will understand my expression regarding this. Until then 🤫. love 👑
— LeBron James (@KingJames) May 1, 2024
The Lakers need to have an idea of what it will take to bring him back, knowing they've carried James for the longest stretch in franchise history since his first stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers. right.
Does that mean he wants the Lakers to pursue another star, be it Atlanta's Trae Young or a dynamic wing? Is playing with his son Bronny still at the top of his priority list? He seems to suggest that his desire for the latter isn't all that strong, and he doesn't like to refer to his namesake as “lad.” Stop, said the “young man” has his own choices and his own life to live.
But if there was a world where he could have his own cake and eat his own ice cream, James would definitely enjoy it, and if the same thing happened, he would play for the Nuggets again. And in some cases, your spouse has to know that you are likely to break up before he or she can completely piss off and accomplish your list of demands, even if he or she has nowhere else to go. yeah.
On head coach Dervin Ham's job security despite the lack of top talent outside of James and Davis and having to manage their old and tired bodies throughout an 82-game season. has been rumored for the past few weeks.
If a star wants you to be there, old or not, you're there. If you don't, you will be gone, regardless of your real responsibility.
That's the way the NBA is today, and the Lakers will have high expectations and then hold someone accountable for not achieving.
“The last two years have been really tough, I will tell you that,” Ham said. “You want to win that ultimate prize. It felt like every time we hit a beat, someone, an important piece, would fall out of the lineup. That's what it is, dude.”
Davis appeared in a career-high 76 games this season and was understandably frustrated at not being a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year, but we all know the downside to acquiring him. ing. Even if you pull off an improbable comeback against the team that was your boogeyman, he might suffer an injury that you can't predict or prevent.
James is close friends with Davis and of course is Rich Paul's agent, so Davis would be happy to step in if a recruitment is needed.
“I'm pretty sure, I'm not thinking about him right now, but he's going to come see me and tell me what's going on before I make the decision public,” Davis said. Ta. “But obviously it's been a great five seasons with him.”
The individual seasons the Lakers got from James and Davis probably won't be able to be replicated next season. This is especially true from a health standpoint, as he will be heading into next season with more miles after the Summer Olympics.
Are they the team that won the first season tournament? Or was it a disastrous team after that? Are they a team that finished the season 11-3 before the play-in tournament (23-10 in last 33 games, 5th in the league), or are they a team that just couldn't take advantage of a lethargic defending champion? ?
The answer usually lies in the gray area in between.
And the gray area is where James loves it. Ambiguity. Endless discussions and platitudes about his greatness. The team will have to have an internal discussion about what life will be like without James, and that will take place in boardrooms across the NBA, but it just so happens that James really wants to consider free agency to chase No. 5 Ring. There is.
And the discussion of what will happen to the league if he ultimately decides to bow out, even if he can still play at an elite level.
It's all fascinating, and watching Aaron Gordon snatch a late rebound out of James' arms and connect with Jamal Murray's triple in the final moments can ease some of the pain. Put the runner down with 3.6 seconds left and try again.
So James walked off the floor one last time to celebrate his team's progress. That team will once again carry his competitive blood under its banner.
But he turns the tables again on his way out of the building, leaving us hanging again, knowing the conversation has just begun, showing us a glimmer of intrigue.
