The Oklahoma City Thunder survived a wild fourth quarter and eliminated the Los Angeles Lakers with a 115-110 victory Monday night to complete a second-round sweep.
Now, the biggest question surrounding the NBA suddenly shifts toward LeBron James.
Could this have been Jamesâ final game in a Lakers uniform? Could this have been his final NBA game ever?
The 41-year-old star has not officially announced retirement plans, but his contract is set to expire this offseason and speculation surrounding his future has only intensified after Los Angelesâ playoff exit.
James finished Game 4 with 24 points, 12 rebounds and three assists in 40 minutes. However, the Lakers came up short late after missed opportunities in the final seconds.
Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves helped keep the Lakers alive with a great second half, but Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Ajay Mitchell eventually delivered the final blow to end Los Angelesâ season.
Now, attention immediately turns toward what comes next for James.
The four-time NBA champion has repeatedly said he still loves competing and previously left the door open to playing a 24th NBA season. However, retirement speculation has continued to grow over the past year, especially as questions about the Lakersâ long-term direction continue to surface.
As he walked off the court Monday night, the entire NBA world was left wondering if this was the last time LeBron James would ever step on an NBA court.
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