The Los Angeles Lakers’ season came to an end after being swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Semifinals. Despite the way that the season finished, James said after the series that the season is by no means a failure and thought it was cool that he was able to succeed ina new role this late in his career.
“I was put into some positions I never played in my career … actually, in my life,” James said, per ESPN. “I’ve never been a third option in my life. So, to be able to thrive in that role for that period of time and then have to step back into the role that I’ve been accustomed with over my career … and being able to thrive … that was pretty cool for me at this stage in my career.”
There has been speculation that this may have been James’s last season in the NBA, and he confirmed as much. Saying that he has decided to talk over his retirement decision with his family.
He plans to “recalibrate with my family and talk with them, and spend some time with them.”
Ultimately, James said his deicsion will come down to how he feels about the “process.”
“I think for me it’s about the process,” James said. “If I can commit to still being in love with the process of showing up to the arena 5½ hours before a game to start preparing for a game, giving everything I got, diving for loose balls and doing everything that you know that it takes to go out and play.
“Showing up to practices, 11 o’clock practice, I’m there at 8 o’clock preparing my body, preparing my mind, preparing to practice, to put the work in. So I think for me, I’ve always been in love with the process … so I think that would be a big factor.”
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.