Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault praised LeBron James’ sustained excellence after the Thunder eliminated the Los Angeles Lakers in four games in the Western Conference semifinals. Speaking at Crypto.com Arena on May 9, 2026, Daigneault said facing the 41-year-old forward was “a privilege” and called his performance “remarkable.”
“Just the fact that he’s playing at this stage of his career is remarkable,” Daigneault told reporters following Game 4. “If you make a mistake on him, he’s going to make you pay. He actually helps you improve because any crack, he’s going to find it. I have the deepest respect for him.”
James’ series numbers underscore longevity
Against what finished the regular season as the NBA’s top-ranked defense, James averaged 23.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.8 assists while shooting 50 percent from the field. James, who is two months older than the 40-year-old Daigneault, led the Lakers’ scouting report throughout the series despite the Thunder prevailing 4-0.
Thunder stars echo admiration
Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander also applauded the four-time champion, calling James “a force” whose size and skill continued to create matchup problems. “It’s amazing what he’s doing at this age,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “I’m not sure we’ll see anything like that again—his longevity, his greatness for this long.”
James has not announced what comes next in his 23-year career, but the respect shown by the Thunder highlighted the impact he still commands on opponents and the league at large.
Source: LakersNation.com
