DENVER.- The continuity of LeBron James and Darvin Ham with the Los Angeles Lakers was uncertain after being left out in the first round of the playoffs.
One could leave of his own free will and the other would have no choice.
In the case of James, the star has it in his hands to make the decision on whether he will continue wearing the purple and gold colors in his 22nd season in the NBA.
As for Ham, it all depends on whether the team wants him to continue for a third season as coach after succumbing in successive series against Denver.
These are major decisions after the Nuggets — the reigning league champions — eliminated Los Angeles with a 108-106 victory in Game 5 on Monday.
Immediately, James had to answer a question about whether it would have been his last game wearing the Lakers’ number 23.
“I’m not going to answer that,” said James, who scored 30 points and dished out 11 assists.
It is difficult to assimilate it when just a few minutes had passed after the agonizing floater that Jamal Murray scored. It was the second game of the series in which the Canadian hit the winning basket. And it was another game in which the Lakers wasted a good lead and a series that was quite even ended up dominated 4-1 by Denver.
James found no comfort in that.
“We have lost. “I am not satisfied with participating,” said the star. “We have to move forward. It’s hard to say what we are or what we could achieve, since we couldn’t be complete (due to injuries).”
Ham is on the ropes after a second straight elimination at the hands of the Nuggets in the postseason. He was asked to summarize the experience of coaching James and Anthony Davis on the Lakers, in his first role as head coach.
“Good question,” Ham said. “I have a lot of things on my mind. Maybe at some point I can give you an answer. It’s been two tremendous years. But what you want is the championship.”
James will be able to spend more time with his family. His son, Bronny, will have to decide if he stays in the NBA draft or goes back to college. LeBron James plans to rest and get ready to go to the Paris Olympics with the United States this summer.
James was elusive about his long-standing desire to play alongside Bronny in the NBA.
“I haven’t thought about that recently. I think about it in the past,” she mentioned. “The boy has to decide what he wants to do. And I have to stop saying that he is a boy, he is a young man who must decide what he wants to do. I think just having this conversation is great.”
Unknown future for LeBron James:
James does not know exactly the factors that will influence his decision for a seventh season with the Lakers.
For now.
“I’m going to sit down with Rich (Paul), my agent, and talk to my family, analyze what’s best, what’s best for my career,” James said. “It will be defined at the appropriate time.”
James, the leading scorer in NBA history, will turn 40 on December 30. He accumulates many minutes.
“It’s a huge burden, mentally, physically, spiritually, everything,” James said about playing at this stage of his career. “There’s a lot of dedication, a lot of hard work and a lot of hours. It takes a toll on you, but it pays off.” .
Source: AP
