Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James believes the team’s championship hopes hinge on consistent, detail-oriented play rather than any single win-loss metric.
Speaking with ESPN’s Dave McMenamin during training camp, the 40-year-old star said Los Angeles must “be detailed on everything, offensively and defensively,” and hold one another accountable throughout the 2025-26 campaign. James noted that the Western Conference remains “a gauntlet” and cautioned that even strong performances do not always translate into victories.
James, who has not ruled out retirement after the upcoming season, is still ramping up and has yet to appear in preseason action. The Lakers are managing his workload while he participates in team workouts.
A healthy Luka Dončić joins James in the starting lineup, giving Los Angeles a dynamic duo that head coach JJ Redick hopes will spearhead a deep playoff run. Redick, echoing James’s emphasis on fundamentals, has said Dončić will play during preseason games, while James’s minutes will be determined on a game-by-game basis.
Los Angeles opens the regular season later this month with a roster widely viewed as competitive, but James reiterated that sustained focus on small details is essential if the Lakers intend to return to the NBA Finals.
Source: Lakers Nation
