Even at 41 Years Old, LeBron James is still dominating in his record setting 23rd NBA campaign, further cementing himself and one of, if not the greatest athlete ever when it comes to sustained longevity. This year with Lakers has showed a few down sides, like his visible stat decline, the massive list of growing injuries, yet he remains productive for NBA standards, but for his standards, he is pushing it.
LeBron James Stats Are Low But Contradicting
LeBron throughout 44 Games this season has averaged a modest 21.4 PPG, a 4 PPG drop from last season and a 7.5 PPG drop from only 3 seasons ago. LeBron is averaging near career lows in every category, he is pulling down the least rebounds since 2003, while the assists stay pretty average per his normal. Steals and Blocks are actually on par from last season, and his best defensive stats since 2022 (1.6 SPG, 1.1 BPG).
Shooting remains about the same, with a 50.4% Field Goal, LeBron remains one of the most efficient scorers of his calibre. Although his 31.3% 3 Pointer is the lowest in 10 Years, and the free throw (74.5%) is really average, everything else is normal. He still dunks like a teenager and his IQ is off the charts, but he is no longer his team’s leader, and slowly moved into the backup leader role, behind Luka.
Every Single Day Is A Historical Achievement
LeBron James, even in a down season, a year where he was meant to retire, is breaking every last record he can. LeBron became the 1st player in NBA history to play in 23 seasons, across 3 Decades. He was selected to his 22nd consecutive All-Star, but ended his record of 21 starts. He just broke Kareem’s record for most field goals made with his 15,838 make.
And if all of those records weren’t enough, he is approaching the record for most games played (He needs 5 more Games), 3rd All-Time in assists (He needs 199 more assists), 4th All-Time in steals (He needs 121 more steals) and 39 more wins to cement himself as the all time most winningest player.
Injuries This Season
It isn’t all good for LeBron James, since age has seemed to finally have found him. LeBron has suffered from 3 major injuries in the 2025-26 NBA Season. He 1st suffered from a sciatica injury, which affected the nerves, limiting his back and leg mobility, that took James out for the 1st 14 games.
When he returned, LeBron was diagnosed with left foot arthritis, which has been the causing factor in him missing a few more games. Finally and most recently, he has suffered from a left elbow contusion Vs the Nuggets, forcing him to leave the game early, but is not believed to be major.
Team Context: Lakers Season
The Los Angeles Lakers currently sit around 37-25, 6th in the West and 2 games ahead of the 7th Seed Suns. They are clear contenders in the playoff race, holding a top 10 offense in the NBA (115.8 PPG), led by the NBA’s leading scorer, Luka Doncic.
With LeBron being the 3rd highest scorer on his team, a sentence that couldn’t have been said for the last 22 Years, he has moved into more of a veteran leadership role, behind Luka and Austin Reaves scoring barrage, the Lakers have a good enough roster to win, but the real struggle comes with their defence. The Lakers allow 117 PPG, 20th in the NBA, they rank 18th in steals and 24th in blocks, while pulling down the 2nd least rebounds per game (40.9 RPG).
Even with LeBron shifting into a role more fitting for his age, the Lakers do not have what it takes to win against other winning teams in the NBA, having a 16-14 record late in the season, a horrible run for a team that had championship aspirations pre season.
Future and Rumors
With a player option for the 2026–27 season, speculation about LeBron’s future in Los Angeles are growing, and they can’t be silenced for much longer.
With all this in mind, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are in their primes, and wasting these years on a player who is 15 years older then the average NBA player age of 26, there have been rumours for months that a potential trade or returns could be made, here are a few possibilities:
- Retiring as a Laker, leaving a lasting legacy in Los Angeles.
- A potential return to the Cleveland Cavaliers for 1 last run (Cavs said they would do it).
- Joining another contender for a final championship run (Showed interest in the Knicks).
No decision has been made, and it will likely depend on health, playoff results, and personal goals.
Even with declining numbers, LeBron James continues redefining longevity in professional basketball. At 41 years old, producing at an All-Star level while breaking historic records reinforces why his career remains one of the most extraordinary in NBA history.
Did you enjoy reading this Blog? Check out some other Articles about the Lakers here, and Subscribe to Our YouTube Channel for some of the best News, Analysis, Stats and Stories in the Space!