LeBron James is in Year 23, but you wouldn’t know it by the way he’s still commanding the floor. At 40, the oldest active player in the NBA isn’t just hanging around-he’s still competing at a high level, keeping the Lakers in the mix as the Western Conference playoff race heats up.
While he may not have the same burst he had in his Miami days, mentally, LeBron remains a step ahead. The basketball IQ, the leadership, the ability to read and manipulate defenses-those tools are still razor-sharp.
And while James continues to chase one more ring, the next generation is already knocking. One of the most talked-about names in the upcoming 2026 NBA Draft is BYU’s AJ Dybantsa.
The 6-foot-8 wing has scouts buzzing with his elite physical tools-length, bounce, and a scoring package that looks tailor-made for today’s NBA. He’s the kind of player franchises dream about building around, and right now, he’s leading the conversation as a potential No. 1 overall pick.
Dybantsa recently got a front-row seat to the present and future colliding when he attended the Lakers-Jazz game in Utah. After the game, he shared a quick courtside moment with LeBron-a handshake, a few words, and a mutual nod of respect. BYU Men’s Basketball posted the clip with a fitting caption: “game recognizes game.”
Dybantsa followed up with a post of his own, tagging James and adding a crossed-fingers emoji-just a subtle way of showing appreciation for a moment that clearly meant something.
After BYU’s win over Abilene Christian, Dybantsa opened up about the interaction. He explained that he and LeBron had trained together a couple of years ago and had stayed in touch.
“He was just saying that he’s been watching from a distance,” Dybantsa said. “Obviously I worked out with him like two years ago, so I’ve been in contact with him a little bit.
But it’s greatness, so I’m just happy to meet him.”
Moments like that matter. For a young star on the rise, getting that kind of recognition from a living legend is more than a photo op-it’s validation. And for LeBron, who’s long made it a point to support and mentor the next wave, it’s another example of the legacy he’s building off the court.
Dybantsa’s not the only name to watch in 2026. Kansas standout Darry Peterson and Duke’s Cam Boozer are also generating top-pick buzz.
But Dybantsa’s blend of size, athleticism, and offensive versatility gives him arguably the highest ceiling in the class. He’s the kind of player teams might start positioning themselves for as the season winds down-yes, the dreaded “T” word: tanking.
Back to LeBron for a moment-he gave Lakers fans a scare during that same game against the Jazz. Midway through the action, he took a hard shot to the knee from Utah guard Walter Clayton Jr. and went down in visible pain.
For a few tense moments, it looked like it could’ve been serious. But James got up, shook it off, and finished the game.
Afterward, he admitted he “dodged a bullet.”
Even as Father Time keeps knocking, LeBron continues to answer with performances that defy the calendar. And with young stars like Dybantsa coming up, the torch may be getting closer to being passed-but it’s not out of LeBron’s hands just yet.