The Los Angeles Lakers’ season came to an end Monday night with a 115-110 defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 4, but attention soon turned to LeBron James’ future in light of the defeat.
Dillon Brooks, a Phoenix Suns forward, was in attendance and shared his thoughts on James’ next move after seeing the performance firsthand.
“I don’t believe it’s his last year,” Brooks told Yahoo Sports. “I believe he has one more in him. When I was a youngster in high school, I watched him in the NBA. He’s had a great career, fighting everyone and doing so at a high level. It’s been fantastic to watch overall, and it’s been a pleasure to compete with him. “
Despite adapting to a new position in the Lakers’ lineup, James, now 41, had another successful season in his 23rd NBA season. In 60 regular-season games as the third option behind Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, he averaged 20. 9 points, 7. 2 assists, 6. 1 rebounds, and 1. 2 steals per game while shooting 51. 5% from the field and 31. 7% from three-point range.
James continued to contribute in all areas during his 19th playoff run. In 10 games, he averaged 23. 2 points, 7. 3 assists, 6. 7 rebounds, and 1. 3 steals while shooting 45. 9% from the floor and 32. 7% from beyond the arc. Despite Doncic’s absence and Reaves’ absence for the majority of the first round, his efforts helped lead Los Angeles past the Houston Rockets.
Dillon Brooks believes LeBron James has ‘one more’ following the Lakers’ playoff defeat.
In the Lakers’ final game of their 2026 playoff run — and maybe the final postseason game of his career — James had 24 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, and one block while shooting 8-for-18 from the field, 2-for-6 from three-point range, and 6-for-8 from the free-throw line in 40 minutes of play.
While the Lakers failed to move, James’ performance and endurance continued to impress. His capacity to adapt to new responsibilities and maintain productivity late in his career is a distinctive feature of his career.
Brooks’ remarks mirror a widespread mood in the league that James may not be ready to resign just yet. As the offseason begins, attention will shift to whether the four-time champion opts to return for another season or call an end to one of the most successful careers in NBA history.
