LeBron James missed the first 14 games of the 2025-26 season with a bout of sciatica on his right side - the first time in his storied career that he wasn’t on the floor for opening night. For a player who’s been the NBA’s ironman for two decades, that absence raised some eyebrows. Was this finally the moment Father Time caught up?
James returned to action on November 18 against the Utah Jazz, and the Lakers didn’t miss a beat. They went 4-0 with him back in the lineup, and while his numbers weren’t eye-popping - 16.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game - the impact was unmistakable. He brought stability, playmaking, and leadership, even if the scoring wasn’t at vintage LeBron levels.
But then came a rough patch. After sitting out the November 30 game against the Pelicans for rest, James returned on December 1 against the Phoenix Suns and struggled. Dillon Brooks, never shy about taking on a defensive challenge, hounded him into just 10 points on 3-of-10 shooting in a 125-108 blowout loss at home.
Things didn’t get better three nights later against the Toronto Raptors. James saw his historic streak of consecutive 10-point games - a mark that had become a symbol of his sustained excellence - come to an end.
He finished with just eight points on 4-of-17 shooting. Now, to be fair, he still managed to hand out 11 assists, including a clutch, game-winning dime to Rui Hachimura.
But for many watching, the narrative had shifted. Around the league, the whispers got louder: Was this finally the decline?
And then, just like he’s done time and time again, LeBron flipped the script.
Since that eight-point outing against Toronto, James has been nothing short of sensational. Over the 15 games that followed, he’s averaged 25.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game - a full-fledged return to All-NBA form.
And since turning 41 on December 30, he’s actually stepped it up another notch, posting 26.1 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game. These aren’t just solid numbers for a player his age - they’re elite numbers, period.
Even those who were ready to write him off are now eating their words. One NBA scout, who had been convinced the end was near after the Suns and Raptors games, admitted recently that he was completely wrong.
“I thought he was done,” the scout said. “He looked so bad on both ends of the floor.
I was like, ‘Yeah, Father Time finally got LeBron.’ And then ever since that Raptors game, he’s looked unbelievable.
He looks like a top-10 player in the league again. It’s incredible.”
That kind of turnaround doesn’t happen by accident. It speaks to James’ conditioning, his basketball IQ, and his relentless commitment to excellence - even in Year 21.
On the season, LeBron is averaging 22.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 6.9 assists per game. Those numbers are impressive on their own, but context matters here.
He’s doing this at 41 years old, in a league that’s younger, faster, and more athletic than ever. And he’s doing it while still being the engine behind a Lakers team that’s currently 24-14 and sitting fifth in the Western Conference.
As for what’s next? That remains to be seen.
James is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason for the first time since 2018. He hasn’t given any indication yet whether he plans to retire, re-sign, or explore other options.
But if his recent play is any indication, he’s not done - not even close.
For now, the Lakers - and the league - are witnessing something we may never see again: a 41-year-old superstar still playing like one.