LeBron James is widely regarded as one of the greatest postseason players in NBA history. In addition to having four championships and a matching four Finals MVP awards, he's been a one-man wrecking crew who can elevate everyone around him at every turn.
Though the Los Angeles Lakers have changed the way they approach winning, one thing remains the same: With James on the court, they'll always have a fighting chance.
James entered uncharted territory in 2025-26, as Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves emerged as the Lakers' co-starring duo of the future. He selflessly embraced his new role as Los Angeles' third option and quickly fueled one of the team's best runs of the season.
Unfortunately, Doncic and Reaves have since suffered injuries that have already caused them to miss Game 1 of the Lakers' first-round series against the Houston Rockets.
Thankfully, James' long and winding road to a return to the No. 1 role ultimately brought Los Angeles to the ideal destination. He was sensational in Game 1, posting 19 points, 13 assists, eight rebounds, two steals, and a block on 9-of-15 shooting, playing 38 minutes in a 107-98 win.
In the process, James reminded the skeptics of a pivotal truth that had begun to be overlooked when his role decreased: Even at 41 years of age, he'll always give his team a fighting chance.
LeBron James still gives Lakers a unique chance to overachieve
Dating back to the regular season, James has recorded at least 10 assists in four of his past five games. The lone exception saw him post 18 points and six assists in just 17 minutes during the finale, when Los Angeles defeated the Utah Jazz 131-107.
Despite James' recent run of success, he refuses to become complacent—perhaps the greatest strength he's displayed throughout his NBA career. Even after leading the Lakers past the Rockets, his first thought was to evaluate where there may have been room for improvement.
Per Law Murray of The Athletic, James made the following comments after the Game 1 win over the Rockets:
“Right after the game ended, I got in my locker...I’m already thinking about ways that I could have been better, putting us in a position to be more successful, both offensively and defensively. We have a lot of room to improve (with) things that we just said we wanted to accomplish, some of the things that we did not accomplish (Saturday) as a team. We got a lot of room for improvement going into Tuesday.”
James may not be the same player he was when the Lakers won the 2020 championship, let alone during his athletic prime, but one reality remains the same: He will never settle for less than the most that he can give to his team.
Whether that means playing as a No. 1, a No. 2, or even a No. 3, James will always give the Lakers a chance to win by holding his team to the highest possible standard.
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