LeBron James issues retirement statement after NBA play-offs loss

LeBron James gave an immediate response when asked about his future after the LA Lakers were eliminated from the 2026 NBA Playoffs.

The Lakers were beaten 115-110 by the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday, confirming a 4-0 series loss in the Western Conference semi-finals.

James was the Lakers' top scorer in Game 1, which the Thunder won 108-90 last Tuesday, and picked up 24 points at Crypto.com Arena in the fourth and final match.

But the legendary small forward was unable to give the Lakers a late lead, missing a shot with just seconds left on the clock. It was the Lakers' eighth loss of the year against the Thunder.

Oklahoma City will face the Minnesota Timberwolves or the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference finals. Their semi-finals series is locked at 2-2.

The future of 41-year-old James is less clear.

Now at the end of a record 23rd season in the NBA, James has refused all season to confirm his retirement plans or otherwise.

Asked 'What's next?' by reporters after Monday's loss and the Lakers' elimination, James remained unmoved.

"I don't know," said the four-time NBA champion.

"Obviously it’s still fresh from losing. I don’t know. I don’t know what the future holds for me obviously as it stands right now, tonight."

James is also a four-time league MVP and has played more NBA regular season matches than any other player in the league's history.

He holds the records for the most points scored in both the regular season and the post-season.

James is free to do as he pleases in the off-season

'King James', who is also the all-time highest career earner in the NBA, has plenty of bargaining power if he chooses to continue into a 24th season.

One of the reasons this season in particular has been full of speculation about his retirement is that his deal with the Lakers will end in the off-season.

While retirement in line with that milestone makes some logical sense, the end of the contact means James will be an unrestricted free agent.

The former Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat forward could renew with the Lakers or freely move to another team and do a deal there to take him another step closer to his mid-forties.

In the Eastern Conference semi-finals, the New York Knicks also dispatched the Philadelphia 76ers in four games.

The Detroit Pistons and Orlando Magic are tied at two games each.