Phoenix Suns wing Dillon Brooks does not anticipate LeBron James calling it a day just yet. After watching James and the Los Angeles Lakers getting swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday, Brook predicted that “The King” will return for at least one more season before riding off into the sunset.
“I don’t think it’s his last year,” Brooks told Yahoo Sports’ Kelly Iko.
“I think he got one more in him. I watched him when I was in the NBA, when I was a kid in high school. He’s got a phenomenal career and battled everybody and done it at a high level throughout.
“It’s been amazing to watch overall, a pleasure to battle against him.”
Brooks’ words were rather flattering, given the jabs he’s taken at James in the last few years, including calling the Lakers star “old” and stating he “don’t respect no one until they give me 40” in reference to James.
LeBron James Has Three Options
James can either retire, return to the Lakers or go elsewhere as a free agent to pursue his fifth NBA championship. Per multiple insiders, James is still undecided on his next move, something he expressed after his record-breaking 23rd season concluded.
“What my future holds, I don’t know,” James said after the Lakers’ season ended.
“Obviously, we’re still fresh from losing. I don’t know. I don’t know what the future holds for me as it stands right now tonight.
“I got a lot of time, I’ll sit back and recalibrate with my family. Talk with them, spend some time with them and when the time comes, you guys will know.”
LeBron James Next Team Odds
The Lakers have publicly expressed their desire to re-sign free agents LeBron James and Austin Reaves, aiming to keep their ‘Big 3’—alongside Luka Doncic—intact.
“We want that core to be back together,” Lakers head coach JJ Redick said in his exit interview on Tuesday, via ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
“All three of those guys showed a lot of growth this year. I think a lot has been made about Luka’s fitness level and his dedication to that. He was great throughout the season. He’s still in fantastic shape six weeks after an injury. But he’s also grown as a leader.”
Per multiple insiders, the Lakers are hesitant to pay James max dollars, while dealing with the free agency situations of Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura and Luka Kennard, besides attempting to sign 3-and-D wings and athletic bigs to build around Doncic. The Lakers could open up more than $50M in cap space if they let James walk.
“He’s an incredible partner,” Lakers GM Rob Pelinka said of James on Tuesday.
“His basketball IQ on the court is something we get to see as fans. JJ and I get to see his basketball knowledge in terms of other players in the league and the way he wants to play and who he wants to play with. His knowledge base is vast and so those collaborations with him are really inspirational.”
Lakers (+110) and the Cleveland Cavaliers (+125) are the top two betting favorites to have James on their roster next season.
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