LeBron James recently concluded his 23rd season in the NBA and, as expected, didn’t offer any clarity about his future, either with the Los Angeles Lakers or in the league. However, what was clear was that, even at 41, he remained an elite player capable of tipping the balance of power in his team’s favor.
He averaged 20.9 points on 51.5 percent shooting, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game, helping the Lakers secure the fourth seed in the loaded Western Conference before falling via sweep to the reigning champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder.
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With a player option he has yet to decide on, there has been plenty of speculation about his future. Will he stay with the Purple and Gold? Will he conclude his career back home in Cleveland, playing for the Cavaliers? Or will he hang his Nikes up for good?
One player who hopes LeBron will return for another season is Jamal Crawford, saying that the 6’9″ forward deserves to be showered with love, much like the late Kobe Bryant experienced during the 2015-16 season.
Crawford thinks LeBron has done so much for the game
LeBron has and always will be a polarizing figure in the sports world. That much is fact. At the same time, nobody can deny the path that he has paved for many athletes, setting a fine example for players of all ages with his commitment and dedication to his craft.
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Despite being past 40, many would argue that LeBron looks much better and is in better condition than some young players in the league today.
“I would just hope that he goes out and really receives the love he’s shown to everybody all over the world. He deserves to be appreciated in that way,” Crawford said, expressing hope that this wasn’t it for the King.
“I think it would be crazy to just quietly go, ‘Yeah, I’m retiring now,'” he continued. “No. Go get all the love you possibly can because you deserve it.”
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Jamal contended that LeBron’s performance this season is a clear indication of how much fuel he still has left in the tank, which is remarkable for someone his age.
“I’m telling you, I played three times in four days the other day. By the last day, I was trash. I could barely walk. It took me forever just to loosen up. So what he’s doing at 41 years old is on a whole different level,” Crawford mused.
LeBron still loves playing the game
With four NBA titles, four MVP trophies and every individual accolade known to man, LeBron has nothing left to prove in his career. And with more money than he could ever dream of, he can just decide to call it quits and relax for the rest of his life.
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However, Jamal speculated that LeBron still has too much love for the game to simply walk away. It showed in his physique, his passion for winning and the way he led the Lakers this season.
“You can just tell how much he still loves it. He still gets pissed off when something small happens. And I don’t mean in a way where he’s condemning teammates. I mean in a way that shows he still cares deeply,” Crawford stated. “Everything I hear is that he’s still the first one in the gym. He still prepares like a youngster just starting out.”
“That tells me everything about how much he still loves basketball. So I think that’s why he would come back.”
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While it’s clear that LeBron still has what it takes to make significant contributions to a team looking to take the next step, it remains to be seen whether he’ll be a Laker this offseason. The biggest question this offseason is whether LeBron will ask for another humongous contract that might hinder the Lakers’ ability to make moves that would make them a much better squad. The team’s decision-makers and LeBron’s camp have a lot to think about.
There’s also the matter of LeBron’s ability to be satisfied with taking a backseat to young stars, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. While he did well in embracing that role this season, he recently admitted he was not used to it. LeBron may return for one more season, but it’s a toss-up as to whether it would be in Los Angeles.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on May 13, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.