DENVER Following their elimination from the playoffs in the first round, LeBron James and Darvin Ham’s futures with the Los Angeles Lakers remain uncertain.
One may have the option to depart, while the other may not.
James has the freedom to choose whether or not to play in purple and gold for his 22nd NBA season.
After losing the first two games of the series against Denver, Ham is concerned about whether the team will rehire him as coach for a third season.
After the reigning champion Nuggets defeated Los Angeles 108-106 in Game 5 of the playoffs on Monday, big decisions are ahead. James was questioned shortly afterward about if he had considered the possibility that this may be his final game wearing his No. 23 Lakers jersey.
James, who finished with 30 points and 11 assists, remarked, “I’m not going to answer that.”
James found it hard to take it all in so soon after Jamal Murray had drained the game-winning floater in the final seconds. Murray’s game-winning shot came in the second game of the series. The Lakers lost another game after blowing a sizable lead, and in the series, they came dangerously close to making the score appear even closer than Denver’s 4-1 victory.
Not that James finds comfort in it, or would even utilize it in the future, if this squad sticks together.
“We came up short. “I’m not one for participation,” James declared. You move on. Because we are not yet whole (because of our traumas), it is difficult to say who we are or who we can be.
Ham is under pressure following the Nuggets’ second consecutive postseason elimination of him. He was asked to provide a brief summary of his experiences as the first-ever head coach of James and Anthony Davis in this company.
What a wonderful question, Ham remarked. “Right now, my thoughts are all over the place. I might respond to you at some time. I’ll tell you what, it’s been an incredible two years. Your ultimate goal is to take home the grand prize.
James currently has family time coming up. Bronny, his son, needs to decide between staying in the NBA draft and returning to school.In order to be ready for the summer Olympics in Paris, LeBron James intends to take a break before getting ready for USA Basketball’s training camp.
When asked if he would ever play professionally with Bronny, James shrugged.
“I haven’t been thinking much recently. I had considered it in the past,” James remarked. “I don’t want to say kid no more; the young man has to decide what he wants to do. The kid has to do what he wants to do.” I just think the fact that we’re even having the conversation is pretty cool.”
James is unsure of the specific considerations that will influence his choice to rejoin the Lakers for a seventh season.
James declared, “I’ll have a conversation with my family and Rich (Paul), my agent, to determine what’s best for my future. “When necessary, we will cross that.”
Davis is always up to talk if he wants to.
We are complementary to one another,” stated Davis, who managed to finish with 17 points and 15 rebounds in Game 5 despite suffering a sore shoulder. “He is aware of my feelings for him. Obviously, he wants to win, and I think we can accomplish that here.
On December 30, James, the all-time top scorer in the league, will turn 40. He has a great deal of experience sprinting up and down the court.
Playing at this point in his career is really draining, James added, psychologically, physically, spiritually, all around. It requires a great deal of commitment, effort, and long hours. Although extremely demanding, it is rewarding.
“Because the physical, mental, and emotional toll it takes on your body and other related issues is something you don’t mind if you love the game, the competition, and being the best.”
All Rights Reserved. The Washington Times, LLC, 2024.
