As the NBA season rounds the final turn and heads into the home stretch, the Los Angeles Lakers are finding their rhythm - and their leader isn’t taking anything for granted. LeBron James, now in his 22nd All-Star appearance and still very much the heartbeat of this team, knows exactly what it’ll take to keep the Lakers in the thick of the Western Conference race: health, energy, and focus.
“We’ve gotten past the marathon and now the sprint is about to start,” James said during All-Star Weekend media availability. That’s vintage LeBron - a guy who’s seen every phase of an NBA season and understands how quickly the tone shifts after the break.
The Lakers currently sit fifth in the West with a 33-21 record, and their recent 124-104 win over the Mavericks was a statement. The rotation is clicking, the chemistry is building, and the urgency is starting to show.
But James isn’t letting the win streak or standings distract from the bigger picture. He’s laser-focused on what truly matters in the postseason: being healthy when it counts.
“Our success is gonna come down to obviously I think our health,” he emphasized. And he’s right.
For a team with championship aspirations, it’s not just about stacking wins in February - it’s about peaking in May and June.
The Lakers have shown flashes of what they can be when everything is working. The ball movement is sharper, the defensive rotations tighter, and the supporting cast is stepping up in key moments.
But as James pointed out, that won’t mean much if the team can’t stay on the floor. With the playoffs looming, managing minutes, avoiding injuries, and keeping the roster energized could be the difference between a deep run and an early exit.
Off the court, LeBron also took a moment to salute one of the league’s rising stars. Following the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, where Anthony Edwards captured the Kobe Bryant Trophy as MVP, James offered high praise for the Timberwolves guard.
“Love Ant-Man. Everything about him.
On the court, off the court. Happy for him, first of many All-Star MVPs for him.
I love Ant, he’s got a fan in me and a friend in me for life,” James said.
That’s more than just a compliment - it’s a symbolic passing of the torch. Edwards has been electric this season, and to earn that kind of respect from a player like LeBron, who’s been the face of the league for two decades, says a lot about where the league is headed. It’s a nod to the future, even as LeBron continues to shape the present.
For now, though, James isn’t ready to hand over the reins just yet. With the Lakers poised for a strong playoff push, he’s locked in on leading by example - staying sharp, staying healthy, and keeping the team focused on the ultimate goal. The sprint has begun, and if LeBron has his way, the finish line will be somewhere in June.