For two decades, LeBron James has been the centerpiece of every team he has been on in the NBA. Now, headed into the 2025-26 season, the Los Angeles Lakers may truly reach their ceiling if he embraces more of a glue guy kind of role.
Now, some are going to scoff at this suggestion purely because of the highs that LeBron has reached in his career. Of course he's been one of the greatest players to ever play the game, but that doesn't mean he has to be out here trying to score 30 points every night as he approaches his 41st birthday.
And when it comes to being a glue guy, that doesn't mean disappearing or becoming irrelevant. It simply means letting go of chasing nightly stat lines and focusing fully on the kind of connective impact we know James can have. Screening, secondary passes, and the kind of defensive communication that makes talented rosters operate better are all good examples here.
LeBron James accepting this role could further elevate the Lakers
LeBron's numbers from last season, while below his career averages, still remained impressive. However, continuing to put up big numbers every night is only going to continue to take a toll on his body, and he's already coming into the year injured. This version of the team simply doesn't need him to log 35 minutes and 25 points every single night. What they truly need is for him to stay fresh, be engaged on defense, and tap into those short bursts of dominance when the game is hanging in the balance.
If LeBron can accept that kind of shift to having a lower statistical impact and lean into more emphasis on intangibles, the ripple effects could end up defining the Lakers' season. Him playing in this style would further empower Luka Doncic as the offense's primary engine, while also allowing other role players or younger guys to step into bigger roles as well. And not to mention, this style of play would undoubtedly serve to further elongate James' already lengthy career.
We know that throughout his career, LeBron has always been a guy with a high basketball IQ as well as level of adaptability. Now, he can use those same traits to fuel the final chapter of his career. If he can commit to being this kind of player who does all the little things to hold a contender together, LA could reach an even greater level as a team.