LeBron James Unsure Whether He'll Play a 24th Season After Lakers Swept by Thunder

LeBron James Unsure Whether He'll Play a 24th Season After Lakers Swept by Thunder

Forty-one years old and heading into unrestricted free agency, LeBron James sat at the postgame podium Monday night and offered three words: "I don't know."

Following the Lakers' season-ending loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals, James' two-year, $101.3 million contract with Los Angeles will end this summer. The Thunder swept the Lakers in four games.

James finished with 24 points and 12 rebounds in the 115-110 loss. He said he'll recalibrate with his family before deciding on a 24th season, acknowledging there's "nothing I need to show in this league" but that competing for championships remains his only motivation.

Gobble's Take: James said if he falls out of love with the process, he'll fall out of love with the game — that's the only question left to answer.

Sources: Yahoo Sports NBA · CBS Sports NBA

Luka Dončić: "I Wasn't Close" to Playing as Lakers' Season Ends

Luka Dončić watched the entire postseason from the sideline and explained why on Monday night: he was never close to being cleared to play.

Dončić suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain on April 2 and missed the Lakers' final 15 regular-season games plus every playoff game — including their first-round win over Houston. He confirmed he is currently running and shooting but has not progressed to contact work. "If I could be out there, I would be, 100%," he said. "Everybody in that room knows this is really tough. This is the best time to play basketball."

Dončić acknowledged that the disappointing end overshadowed the many good elements of his first full season with the Lakers — after being acquired from the Dallas Mavericks in a seismic trade in February 2025. Shortly after the season ended, he announced on social media that he won't play for Slovenia this summer, citing plans to pursue joint custody of his daughters.

Gobble's Take: Dončić was never close to returning, and his first full season with the Lakers — following the February 2025 trade — ended without him on the floor.

Source: Yahoo Sports NBA

Donovan Mitchell Scores 39 Second-Half Points, Ties a 39-Year-Old Playoff Record, and Saves the Cavs' Season

Four points at halftime. Down four, staring at a potential 3-1 series deficit against the Pistons. Then Donovan Mitchell walked out of the locker room and did something that had never been done before — or at least matched — tying the all-time record for the most points ever scored in a single playoff half.

Mitchell erupted for 39 second-half points Monday night — tying the all-time record for points in a single playoff half — to lead Cleveland to a 112-103 win and even the series at 2-2. He personally scored eight points in the first 96 seconds of the third quarter, detonating a 23-0 Cavaliers run to open the half. Factor in the final two points of the first half and it's a 25-0 Cleveland surge, the second-largest unanswered run of its kind in the play-by-play era. His 21 third-quarter points alone mark his fifth playoff quarter with at least 20, a feat only Stephen Curry and Jamal Murray have matched since 1997.

Mitchell's 43-point final line also moves him ahead of Kyrie Irving for the second-most 40-point playoff games in Cavaliers franchise history — trailing only LeBron James. He now has four such games in Cleveland's colors. The Cavs were teetering; Mitchell didn't just win the game, he completely reset the psychological terms of the series.

Gobble's Take: Mitchell had four points at halftime and still finished with more second-half points than most players score in an entire playoff game — the Pistons had no answer and neither does history.

Source: CBS Sports NBA

The Cavs Could Trade Evan Mobley for Giannis Depending on Playoff Results

Cleveland's front office is bracing for potential changes if things go south in the playoffs. The Cavaliers are currently in the Eastern Conference semi-finals against the Detroit Pistons, with the series tied 2-2. The winner will face the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference final.

According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Milwaukee Bucks are listening to offers for Giannis Antetokounmpo with just six weeks until the NBA Draft. The Timberwolves, Celtics, Knicks, Lakers, and Cavaliers all called about Antetokounmpo at the previous trade deadline and would be prepared to do so again. Milwaukee is seeking a young blue-chip prospect and/or multiple draft picks. The Cavs could offer Evan Mobley plus draft picks and swaps, which Charania describes as the most all-in move the franchise could make. How deep Cleveland goes in the playoffs will likely shape how aggressively they pursue a deal.

Gobble's Take: The Cavs have the assets Milwaukee wants — whether they use them depends on what happens next in this series.

Source: Yahoo Sports NBA, Yahoo Sports NBA

In Case You Missed It

Yesterday's top stories:

• Washington Wizards Win No. 1 Pick as Tanking Pays Off for Three Teams
• Wembanyama Ejected for the First Time in His NBA Career — Spurs Series Now Tied 2-2
• The Knicks Have Won Seven Straight Playoff Games by an Average of 26.4 Points
• Cavs Are 3.5-Point Favorites in Game 4, Trailing Detroit 2-1 in Second Round