LeBron James Addresses Reports About His 'Future' in NBA, Says He Needs to Consult 'with the Fam'
LeBron declined to answer if he had played his final game with the Los Angeles Lakers after his team was eliminated from the NBA playoffs
Justin Ford/Getty
LeBron JamesLeBron James called out "reports" about his future in the NBA after the Lakers were eliminated from the playoffs
The NBA superstar said he will make his decision after "speaking with the fam" and his "representation" in a post on social media
LeBron said he's "only thinking about spending time with family & friends" at the moment
LeBron James is squashing reports about his future with the Los Angeles Lakers after his team was eliminated from the NBA playoffs.
After the Lakers were knocked out of the first round by the defending champions, the Denver Nuggets, on Monday, April 29, speculation began about LeBron, 39, potentially declining his player option with Los Angeles to become a free agent this summer.
When asked if he had just played his final game with the Lakers after their 108-106 loss to Denver, LeBron just said, “I’m not going to answer that" in his postgame press conference.
The reply concerned Laker fans who hope LeBron will stay with the team. One user on X (formerly Twitter) said, "I heard his answer loud n' clear," in a reply under the video of LeBron's answer. Another account replied, "Allow me to translate: he is saying and I quote 'I’m gone'," of the response.
That assumption continued when NBA insider Brian Windhorst, known for his decades-long close relationship with James and his camp, told ESPN, “I do think LeBron intends to opt out of his contract and become a free agent for the first time since 2018."
But on April 30, the NBA's all-time leading scorer addressed the rumors that he's unsatisfied with the Lakers.
In a post on X, LeBron wrote, "I’ve seen, heard a lot of reports about my future. I said it last night and I’ll say it again. I do not know yet as I’m only thinking about spending time with my family & friends!"
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
LeBron continued, "When I know after speaking with the fam, my counsel as well as my representation about it then you guys will know." He concluded his message by writing, "Until then," and adding an emoji that suggests he's remaining silent on the matter.
According to NBC, LeBron has until June 29 to decide if he will opt into his player option with the Lakers or become a free agent.
After the Lakers' disappointing elimination, LeBron told the media, “I just want to get home to the family, honestly."
He continued, “One of my boys is trying to decide if he’s going to enter the draft or go back to school," referring to his son, Bronny James, 19, who is currently a freshman at USC. "I have another kid that’s playing AAU ball," LeBron added of his son Bryce James, 16.
Of Zhuri Nova James, 9, and his wife, Savannah James, he said, "My daughter is playing volleyball, and my wife is doing so many great things. So it’s about family right now," LeBron concluded.
Related: LeBron James' 3 Kids: All About Bronny, Bryce and Zhuri
Just before the loss, Savannah, 37, opened up to PEOPLE about her new podcast, Everybody's Crazy, and showing the world a "more personal side of her" after she spent years "playing the background" of her husband's career.
"I started my family pretty young and I was just in a space of trying to navigate who I was at the time or who I am," Savannah shared, "And I feel like I've grown so much from playing the background, taking care of the kids, supporting my husband."
"Now I'm just kind of like, my kids are growing, basically out of the house," she continued. "My daughter is now there with me and she's watching me and she's already expressed to me, 'Mom, I want to be like you.'"
Savannah and her co-host April McDaniel released the first episode of their podcast on May 1, and LeBron excitedly celebrated his wife's new project on social media. He posted three Instagram Stories while watching the debut episode, congratulating his wife and her co-host with plenty of laughing face emojis on the posts.
Beyond his future in the NBA, LeBron is looking ahead to the Summer Olympics in Paris, where he'll compete alongside NBA greats like Steph Curry, Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant as a part of Team USA Basketball.
For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!
Read the original article on People.