LeBron James said Thursday that he will wait until later in the summer to decide whether he will return to the NBA, telling the Mind the Game podcast he is "taking his time" and has "not even really thought about it too much." He added he hasn’t yet taken his family vacation, which he plans to do after Memorial Day, and that family sentiment will factor into where he spends the next year.
James said free agency — which begins in July — should start to make his future clearer as July rolls into August. He told listeners the choice could lead to another season or the end of his playing days, and that he believes he can still contribute at a high level. The numbers underline why his decision matters: in the 2025-26 regular season James averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists, and he could return for a 24th season, which would set an NBA record.
The field expected to pursue him includes the Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks, while the Los Angeles Lakers’ coach and general manager have both publicly said they want him back if he opts to re-sign in Los Angeles. Yet Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka has also said the archetype of the roster the franchise wants is going to be retrofitted around Luka Dončić — a shift that could change James’ role if he returns.
That role is already in flux. Late in the 2025-26 season James stepped back to let Dončić and Austin Reaves drive the Lakers’ offense down the stretch, and both James and Reaves are now expected to hit free agency. James was also swept by the Thunder in the second round of his most recent playoff run with the Lakers — a defeat that sharpens the stakes of any move he might make.
Family considerations are immediate and practical. James’ 12-year-old daughter Zhuri is playing club volleyball in Southern California, his younger son Bryce is entering his redshirt sophomore season at Arizona, and his elder son Bronny remains signed with the Lakers for at least one more season. James said winning is the central priority — he wants to be excited to go to work and to be around teammates who share that urgency — but he also said his free-agent choice will be based in part on how his family feels about where they would live next year.
The friction is clear: the Lakers say they want James back, but they are also reshaping the roster around Dončić; James says he can still play at a high level and that winning matters most; teams with championship windows are expected to make offers. That mix makes his decision more than a personal choice — it will affect championship odds for multiple clubs and determine whether James returns to a familiar role, accepts a retooled place on a Dončić-led roster, or pursues a different opportunity in free agency.
Given James’ public insistence that winning is paramount and the list of suitors reportedly preparing bids, the most likely outcome is that he will weigh competitive offers as free agency approaches rather than make an immediate retirement announcement. His summer will be measured in both family calendars and contractual windows: a vacation after Memorial Day first, then a closer look at offers as July and August unfold — and a decision that will decide whether he chases another title or signs off on a historic 24th season.
