NBA legend LeBron James said he is unsure “what the future holds” after the Los Angeles Lakers were knocked out of the play-offs.
Reigning champions Oklahoma City Thunder won 115-110 to seal a 4-0 victory in the best-of-seven Western Conference semi-final.
Widely regarded as one of the best players of all time, 41-year-old James is out of contract in the summer.
“I’ve got a lot of time. I’ll go back and recalibrate with my family and talk with them,” he said.
“It’s about the process – if I can commit to still being in love with the process of showing up to the arena five and a half hours before a game to start preparing.
“When the time comes, you guys will know what I decide to do.”
James is the leading points scorer in NBA history and has won four titles and four Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards.
“There’s nothing I need to show in this league,” he said.
“I’ve done it all; I’ve seen it all. Just trying to compete and trying to win championships – that’s a motivating factor.”
James scored 24 points at Crypto.com Arena in LA, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the current MVP, scored 35 points and contributed eight assists for the Thunder.
The Thunder, who beat the Phoenix Suns 4-0 in the first round of the play-offs, will play the Minnesota Timberwolves or the San Antonio Spurs – their semi is level at 2-2 – in the Western Conference final.
In the Eastern Conference semi-finals, the Cleveland Cavaliers earned a 112-103 home win against the Detroit Pistons to level the series at 2-2.
Donovan Mitchell scored 43 points at Rocket Arena for the Cavs, who lost the first two games.
Mitchell scored 39 in the second half, equalling the record – set by Eric Floyd of the Golden State Warriors in 1987 – for the most points in one half of a post-season game.
The Cavs or the Pistons will play the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference final.
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