LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated from the 2025 NBA Playoffs following a 103-96 defeat against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night, ending their first-round series.
The loss raises questions about the future of the 39-year-old NBA legend. When asked postgame about how much longer he plans to continue playing, James replied, “I don’t have the answer to that right now.”
Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert delivered a dominant performance, posting a playoff career-high 27 points and 24 rebounds.
Despite the Lakers’ efforts, their offense struggled to find rhythm. James contributed 22 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists. Luka Dončić added 28 points and 9 assists, while Rui Hachimura chipped in 23 points off the bench.
The Timberwolves controlled the game with their rebounding advantage and aggressive defense, overcoming poor three-point shooting (14.9%). Their physical play and momentum proved too much for the Lakers.
This marks one of the few times LeBron has exited the playoffs in the opening round, sparking speculation about his potential retirement.
