LeBron James, 41, Still Guides Lakers Past First Round
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HOUSTON — At 41 years old and in a record-setting 23rd NBA season, LeBron James continues to headline the Los Angeles Lakers’ postseason run. The forward steered Los Angeles to a six-game victory over the Houston Rockets in the first round, clinching the series on May 1, 2026, at Toyota Center.
James joined the Lakers as a 33-year-old free agent in 2018. Speaking on the latest episode of the “Mind the Game” podcast, he admitted he never imagined he would still be the primary offensive option eight years later. “If someone had said I’d be playing in 2026, I don’t know if I could’ve answered that,” James said. “To say at 41 I’d be leading a team into the postseason and winning a series, I wouldn’t have bet on that.”
Entering the season, the Lakers expected James to be their third option behind Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Grade 2 muscle strains sidelined both players, forcing James back into the lead role and leaving Los Angeles as heavy underdogs against Houston. He responded by averaging 23.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 8.3 assists during the series, including a 3-0 start that set the tone for the upset.
The Lakers now advance to the Western Conference Semifinals against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder. Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said he is not underestimating Los Angeles, praising the team’s coaching and James’s extensive playoff experience.
Source: LakersNation.com
