LeBron James talked about steps he’ll take before deciding whether to play again next season, but is there one missing from the list?
Spending time with his family. Talking to his 12-year-old daughter; his 19-year-old son; and his wife. Reflecting on this past season and deciding what’s in his best interest. And …
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What he didn’t cite explicitly is how his role changed this past season, during which he averaged 20.9 points, the fewest since he averaged the same in his rookie season.
Opinion: If this is it for LeBron James, appreciate how unprecedented he was
“I’m not looking at my year as a disappointment, that’s for damn sure,” James, 41, told reporters after the Lakers lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder, 115-110, Monday, May 11 and got swept in the Western Conference semifinal playoff series. “Especially, I was put into some positions that I’ve never played in my career before, actually in my life.
“I’ve never been a third option in my life.”
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LeBron and Bronny James making NBA history together during 2026 season
Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James (9) and forward LeBron James jog up the court after a play during the third quarter against the Houston Rockets of Game 4 of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center on April 26, 2026.
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LeBron and Bronny James making NBA history together during 2026 season
Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James (9) and forward LeBron James jog up the court after a play during the third quarter against the Houston Rockets of Game 4 of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center on April 26, 2026.
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LeBron and Bronny James making NBA history together during 2026 season
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) gives the ball to guard Bronny James during the fourth quarter against the Houston Rockets during Game 3 of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center on April 24, 2026.
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LeBron and Bronny James making NBA history together during 2026 season
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) and guard Bronny James react after a play during the second quarter against the Houston Rockets of Game 3 of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center on April 24, 2026.
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LeBron and Bronny James making NBA history together during 2026 season
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) sets a pick on Houston Rockets forward Jae’sean Tate (8) as Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James (9) dribbles the ball during the second quarter during game three of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center on April 24, 2026.
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LeBron and Bronny James making NBA history together during 2026 season
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) sets a screen on Houston Rockets guard Aaron Holiday (0) as Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James takes the ball down court in the first half of Game 2 of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on April 21, 2026.
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LeBron and Bronny James making NBA history together during 2026 season
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) with son Bronny James in the first half against the Houston Rockets during Game 1 of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on April 18, 2026.
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LeBron and Bronny James making NBA history together during 2026 season
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) gets a tap from guard Bronny James during a stoppage in play in the first half against the Washington Wizards at Crypto.com Arena on March 30, 2026.
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LeBron and Bronny James making NBA history together during 2026 season
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) interacts with guard Luke Kennard (10) and guard Bronny James (9) before the game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Crypto.com Arena on March 3, 2026.
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LeBron and Bronny James making NBA history together during 2026 season
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) forward Jarred Vanderbilt (2) guard Bronny James (9) and forward Rui Hachimura (28) watch game action during the second half at Crypto.com Arena on Feb. 10, 2026.
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LeBron and Bronny James making NBA history together during 2026 season
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) greets guard Bronny James (9) as Bronny enters the game for LeBron during the fourth quarter against the Atlanta Hawks at Crypto.com Arena on Jan. 13, 2026
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LeBron and Bronny James making NBA history together during 2026 season
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (left) and son Bronny James watch from the bench in the second half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Crypto.com Arena on Oct. 24, 2025.
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LeBron and Bronny James making NBA history together during 2026 season
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James talks with son, guard Bronny James, during a break in the fourth quarter against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on Oct. 5, 2025.
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LeBron and Bronny James making NBA history together during 2026 season
Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James and forward LeBron James, wearing a Los Angeles Dodgers cap, watch the action against the Golden State Warriors in the first quarter at Chase Center on Oct. 5, 2025.
This season, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves emerged as the NBA’s highest-scoring backcourt, and in March, Lakers coach JJ Redick officially asked James to accept the role of the team’s third scoring option.
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He agreed.
With James in that role, the Lakers thrived.
That is, until Doncic suffered a hamstring injury in February and Reaves strained his oblique muscle April 2, during 139-96 loss to the Thunder.
Suddenly James was the Lakers’ No. 1 option again, and he led them past the Houston Rockets in their first-round playoff series.
“So to be able to thrive in that role (as the team’s third option) for that period of time and then have to step back into the role that I’ve been accustomed with over my career, over my life … that was pretty cool for me at this stage of my career,” he said.
More: Has LeBron James’ tenure with the Lakers been a failure? Fans weigh in.
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But would it be cool to go back to being the third option next season, which would be his 24th in the NBA?
It could be a complex assessment.
When asked about the love for the game, James said, “I don’t think it ever goes away.”
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (left) controls the ball against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort in Game 4 of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena.
More imporantly, James said, is maintaining his love for “the process.” That entails arriving for games 5 1/2 hours early to start getting ready. And arriving three hours before practice.
“…giving everything I got, diving for loose balls and doing everything that you know that it takes to go out and play,” he said.
James played a co-leading role Monday night, finishing with 24 points and 12 rebounds while Reaves had a team-high 27 points along with seven rebounds and six assists.
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James took 18 shots. Reaves took 16 shots. Luka remained sidelined.
The highlight of James’ eight-year tenure with the Lakers, he said, was leading the Lakers to the NBA title in 2020. He mentioned competing for championships again Monday.
“I think that’s a motivating factor, it’s always been since I’ve – probably the first time I touched the postseason in ‘06 – was like, how can I compete for a championship?” he said.
Does accepting the role of third option give James and the Lakers third best chance to win an NBA title?
Is it something he thinks is in his best interest?
Would he still love showing up 5 1/2 hours before games and three hours before practices?
The process of figuring it out all out has officially begun.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is LeBron James willing to be Lakers’ third option again?
