According to the man himself, LeBron James’ free agency decision could most definitely go into August. He’s currently in the process of making the decision to stay with the Los Angeles Lakers, leave for another franchise, or outright retire this offseason. If he were to return to the league, he would be coming back for his 24th season.

James spoke alongside co-host Steve Nash on the “Mind the Game” podcast regarding his future. Biggest priority for him is to take time and spend it with family before setting his focus back on his basketball career.

The 41-year-old says a family vacation has been planned for after Memorial Day. Again, he references late July or August to be the time he most likely makes a concrete decision on his professional future.

“I’m still in the moment of just taking my time,” said James. “I haven’t even really thought about it too much. Obviously, I understand that I’m a free agent and I can control my own destiny — being here with [the Lakers] for the foreseeable future or if it’s going somewhere else.

“But like, I haven’t even really got to that point…I think at some point in June, late June, as July rolls around — free agency starts to get going and as July rolls around and maybe into August, we’ll start to kind of get a feel of what my future may look like.”

After getting swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder Monday night, reporters were asking LeBron James in the postgame press conference what his future in the NBA looks like. Speculation has been rising since he is 41 years old and this has been a topic since their 2024 postseason exit.

LeBron was prepared for their questions and decided to offer a tiny glimpse into his mindset and where he may be at mentally.

“I think you guys asked me about [retirement], and I’ve answered questions. I don’t think I’ve come out and been like, ‘Oh, retirement is coming,'” James said. “With my future, I don’t know, honestly. It’s, obviously it’s still fresh from, obviously losing. And I don’t know. I don’t know what the future holds for me.”

The highly decorated player said he was going to spend time with family over the course of the next few weeks before making any definite decisions regarding his career and if this is the end or not to an amazing career.

“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.”

Rob Pelinka and the Lakers have publicly made it clear they would love to have LeBron back for another season. Multiple reporters have suggested James could leave Los Angeles and go home to the Cleveland Cavaliers, or even join Stephen Curry in Golden State to help the Warriors win a championship.

As of right now, James is an unrestricted free agent this offseason. This season, he averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game.

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Los Angeles Lakers have signed Kobe Bufkin to a two-year deal. This contract does include a team option for the 2026-27 season.

During his time in the G League with the South Bay Lakers this season, the 22-year-old shooting guard averaged 24.7 points and 4.4 rebounds.

Bufkin has spent three years in the NBA, playing a total of 31 games. In those 31 games, he has averaged 4.7 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.5 assists.

Since entering the league in 2023 as the 15th overall pick, Bufkin has spent his career with the Atlanta Hawks (27 games) and the Lakers (four games).