In the wake of the Los Angeles Lakers’ Western Conference semifinals sweep at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder, LeBron James stood at the podium and delivered the line that has come to define this moment in his career.“I don’t know what the future holds for me, obviously, as it stands right now tonight,” James said. “I’ll go back and recalibrate with my family and talk with them and spend some time with them, and then when the time comes, obviously you guys will know what I decide to do.”With that, another Decision is in the offing, but the context for this one is considerably different than the one in 2010. At 41, in his 23rd NBA season, James had averaged 23 points, six rebounds, and seven assists across 10 playoff games while leading an injury-ravaged Lakers squad past the Houston Rockets in six games before running into a youthful Thunder buzzsaw. The numbers themselves are remarkable. The bigger picture — another postseason run at this point in his career, at this age — borders on the miraculous.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James dunks as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell watches during a second-round NBA basketball playoff game on May 11 in Los Angeles. (Mark J. Terrill/AP)
