playoff loss
LeBron James questions NBA future after Lakers-Aus – Schröder wants to stay in LA
“At this point in my career, I only play to win titles”: NBA superstar LeBron James
© Ashley Landis/AP/DPA
The Los Angeles Lakers around the superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis as well as the German Dennis Schröder were eliminated from the NBA playoffs against the Denver Nuggets. After the defeat, James aroused speculation about the end of his career.
NBA superstar LeBron James wants to think about his future as a basketball player after the playoff with the Los Angeles Lakers. “At this point in my career, I only play to win titles. I don’t get a kick out of being in the conference finals. I’ve been there – many times. I don’t enjoy it if I’m not a part of it, in to come to the finals,” said the 38-year-old league points record holder on Monday evening (local time) after the fourth loss in the fourth game against the Denver Nuggets.
Regarding his future, he says: “We’ll see what happens. There’s a lot I have to think about. I don’t know. I have a lot to think about, if I’m honest. As for me personally with basketball, there is there’s a lot to think about.”
The broadcaster ESPN reported shortly after the press conference about a brief exchange between James and a reporter. When asked how his comment should be understood, James replied: “Do I want to continue playing?” And when asked if he would just leave ahead of the upcoming season, he said: “I’ll have to think about that.”
James had signed a new contract with the Lakers last fall, which is valid until the 2024/2025 season if he takes the option for the second year. James will be 40 years old in December 2024. In the past he has expressed several times that he would like to play on an NBA team with his eldest son. LeBron James Jr., known as Bronny, will play in college for the University of Southern California next season and won’t be in the NBA until the 2024/2025 season at the earliest.
Schroeder wants to stay with the Lakers
James’ teammate Dennis Schröder, on the other hand, is certain that he would like to play for the Lakers again next season. “It’s a dream of the future, so I think both sides want it, of course,” said the 29-year-old from Braunschweig to the German Press Agency when asked if he played his last game in the record champions’ shirt.
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Lakers coach Darvin Ham is like a family member for him and of course he knows “that I would always play for him, no question,” said the national team captain. The Lakers would first have to get the overall situation under control with many expiring contracts. “In the summer, when free agency happens, my agent and adviser will speak to them. And then we’ll see.”
Schröder was playing for the Lakers for the second time in his NBA career. After his unsatisfactory first time with the 17-time champions of the North American professional league in the 2020/2021 season and appearances for the Boston Celtics and the Houston Rockets, he was an integral and important part of the team around James and Anthony Davis this season. His contract is now up. Because teams in the NBA must meet a salary cap, the process of putting together a roster can be very complicated.
LeBron James full of respect for Denver
The Lakers were eliminated from the playoffs on Monday night without a win against the Denver Nuggets. Despite a 15-point lead at the break, Los Angeles lost the fourth game of the finals in the Western Conference with 111:113. James in particular had a strong first half with 31 points, but a 16:36 in the third quarter put the Nuggets back in front around their leaders Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. Jokic had several magic throws out of distress and had 30 points, Murray had 25. James finished his last game of the season with 40 points.
“They were better than us,” Schröder told the German Press Agency. “Of course you have to say that, we lost 4-0. But nonetheless: We can be incredibly proud of ourselves to have reached the Western Conference Finals at all.” He said of the opponent: “I don’t want to talk too soon, but they have a very good chance of bringing the whole thing home.” Schröder started the game on Monday as the starting player. He ended up with 13 points and 5 assists.
Denver is now in the NBA Finals for the first time in its history and is likely to play the Miami Heat for the championship. Miami leads 3-0 in the series against the Boston Celtics and can make it perfect for the final on Wednesday night. “This is a great team,” said LeBron James. “Even if you guard Jokic as well as you think you can, he’ll take the ball behind his head like Larry Bird, throw it 50 feet up and it goes in “, said and added with a corresponding gesture, one could only take off one’s hat.