LeBron James On If He’s Played Final Game With Lakers: ‘I’m Not Going To Answer That’

LeBron James smiled, but it was the last question he took at his final Lakers postgame press conference of the season. And he didn’t answer.

Instead, James politely declined when asked if he thought he may have played his final game with the Lakers.

“Uh, I’m not going to answer that,” he said, casually setting down the microphone and getting up from his chair. “Appreciate it.”

And with that, we were left to wonder if James will pick up the player option on his contract, decline it and re-sign a new deal, or (worst case scenario for the Lakers) decline it and sign somewhere else.

The question did come awful quickly, less than an hour after James and the Lakers were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the defending champion Denver Nuggets in five games.

But you know James, you know he’s likely thought about his future. He’s even spoken about it from time to time — saying he would like to play on the same team with his son Bronny James.

So maybe we will know more when the NBA Draft rolls around in June.  Free agency starts a week after that. Bronny James didn’t look ready for the NBA after his one season in college — but you can be sure teams are contemplating taking a flyer on him, anyway.

After all, his dad brings instant credibility and lots of money to a franchise and its city. And yes, perhaps more winning, despite the fact James will hit the Big 4-0 in December.

Nonetheless, agent Rich Paul told Sirius XM NBA Radio that James intends to play at least another year, maybe two or three.

He said nothing about the rest of that time being spent with the Lakers, of course.

A lot of it could come down to what the Lakers do between now and late in the offseason. Roster upgrades are clearly needed — and perhaps James’ future will be determined by that.

But again, maybe he’s already made up his mind to stay.

“I don’t think LeBron James is gonna retire and I do think he’s gonna play at least one more season,” ESPN insider Brian Windhorst said Monday on The Pat McAfee Show. “I really don’t see him leaving the Lakers. I think he will opt out of his contract though because I think Bronny is entering the draft.”

But even Windhorst appeared to be just guessing. Now, LeBron is keeping the rest of the world doing the same.