Twenty-two years ago in the NBA, everyone was talking about the 19-year-old sensation that had just been named Rookie of the Year. Now, in 2026, as we move through the NBA Playoffs, they are talking about the same man, 41-year-old Lebron James.
It is, of course, normal for James to be in the spotlight. He is, after all, probably the most famous basketball player in the world. Yet, there is something strange happening in the early rounds of the 2026 Playoffs. It is as if there has been a re-examination of the man’s greatness.
To explain, some context is required. There is no doubt that James is one of the greatest players in NBA history. We’ll leave the comparisons with Michael Jordan for another day, as it’s a moot point for what is being discussed here. It is enough to say that the superlatives attached to the 22-time All-Star’s career are enough to warrant a seat at the table of the greats.
James has been accused of slowing down
On the other hand, it was also clear that a player in his forties would be in the process of winding down his career. Athletes can still excel at that age – Tom Brady won a Super Bowl at 43 – but there has been an acceptance that the next generation of stars – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic – had usurped King James as the very best players in the league.
As so often is the case, fandom and rivalry got on James’ back this past few seasons: “he’s not elite anymore,” “he needs help from better players,” “it’s time to retire.” This is all common in sports, yet it also acts to make people overlook what had happened before. And to be clear, James was still playing at a very high level.
However, a curious thing has happened in the current NBA postseason. James, whose Lakers could be considered a mid-tier chance in the NBA Playoffs betting markets, has been on fire, adding all kinds of milestones to his records and coming up clutch in big games. It’s been a tremendous spectacle, and it has become the biggest talking point of the NBA Playoffs thus far.
James has been the standout player for LA
Moreover, it is interesting to see that James’ heroics for the Lakers have come at a time when the team is struggling with injuries to its elite players, especially Luka Doncic, which makes a mockery of the critics who claimed he needs the backing of elite players to succeed. It’s a bit much to say that Lebron is carrying the Lakers right now, but, well, it’s not wholly inaccurate, either.
We don’t know how far this will go. There are better teams than the Lakers in the Playoffs. However, the fact that it has led to a re-appreciation – something in the form of grudging admiration – of James’ talents has been heartening to see. As an aside, there’s also been a bit more respect to James’ son, Bronny, who also plays for the Lakers. Bronny James Jnr. has had to deal with accusations of nepotism throughout his short career, but he is making the most of his scant time on the court, defying the critics.
All of this has added an extra storyline to the Playoffs, which has been fascinating to watch. There is nothing better than watching truly great athletes defy the critics and the passage of time. We’ve seen it in the past with the ultra-elite stars like Tiger Woods and Lionel Messi, and we are seeing it now with the great Lebron James.
Leave a Reply