Both were expected. Not long after the Lakers' season ended late Monday night in Los Angeles with an inevitable sweep courtesy of the Thunder, the focus shifted to LeBron James and his future.
Would he still have one in the NBA, or had he decided that his playing days were in the past and this was finally the end of his remarkable career?
It was hard to imagine James announcing a snap retirement well after midnight on the East Coast, with no fanfare or sendoff. Tim Duncan faded into the background with no advance warning, but LeBron has always courted the spotlight.
The Question That Lingers
Still, the question had to be asked. Larry Bird retired at 35. Magic Johnson, 36. Michael Jordan, 40 (the final time). Duncan and Dirk Nowitzki were 40 when they called it quits.
At 41, James is well past the traditional NBA expiration date. So how about it, LeBron? What are your plans?
"I don't know what the future holds for me, obviously," James said. "As it stands right now tonight, I got a lot of time. As I said last year after we lost to Minnesota, go back and recalibrate with my family and talk with them and spend some time with them. And when the time comes, you guys will know what I decide to do."
Hedging in that moment was extremely on brand. This man turned The Decision into a national TV event. Fat chance he was going to say goodbye in the wee small hours with precious few people watching after getting swept by OKC.
He has options to weigh. These things take time and planning, and especially pomp and pageantry. The hunch here has long been that when James decides the end is nigh, he'll order up the Kobe Bryant deluxe retirement tour package and make it a season-long celebration. As he should.
A New Role in Los Angeles
This season, in a singular career that has produced countless records and highlights, we somehow saw something new from James: He morphed into the best role player in the NBA, or at least someone who played like he knew he wasn't the main man anymore.
As JJ Redick explained earlier this season, the Lakers were at their best most nights when James was third in usage rate after Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Indeed, James' usage was the lowest of his 23 seasons, and he scored the fewest points per game since he was a rookie.
And yet his assists, rebounds, steals and blocks were basically in line with his career averages, and his eFG% was higher. Put another way, the man is still really good at basketball.
James has already played more minutes, games and seasons than anyone in NBA history. He played 60 games this season and made the All-Star team yet again, his 22nd selection.
Playoff Performance
Consider what happened after Dončić and Reaves went down with late-season injuries and the Lakers limped into the playoffs to face a heavily favored Rockets team. James was once again called on to be the main option because the Lakers didn't have any other choice.
And once again, he thrived, pushing a tissue paper-thin supporting cast of Rui Hachimura, DeAndre Ayton, Marcus Smart, Luke Kennard and other spare parts into the second round. His influence in that pivotal Game 3, particularly at the end of regulation, was critical.
First, he picked up Reed Sheppard full court, then he slapped the ball out from behind to create a turnover, then he canned the game-tying 3 that sent the proceedings to overtime.