LeBron James showed up big time for the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the 2026 NBA playoffs.
At the time it was happening, Lakers fans were thrilled with the possibility that King James might be extending the Lakers' postseason to the point where Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves might return for the second round.
That dream didn't end up coming to fruition. Reaves did return against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round, but he wasn't 100% fit. And in general, the Lakers were severely outmatched from a talent and depth perspective against OKC.
Once the Lakers were ultimately eliminated, and the dust had settled on their postseason, the narrative returned to LeBron and his turn-back-the-clock style performance against the Rockets in round one.
LeBron James dominated against the Houston Rockets in the playoffs
Over six games against Ime Udoka's squad, James averaged 23.2 points, 8.3 assists, and 7.2 rebounds per game. He looked like the best player on the floor during the series. In fact, he was.
Games 2 and 3 were particularly impressive for James. In Game 2: 28 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists. In Game 3: 29 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists. It was vintage LeBron James, even at 41 years old.
Zoom ahead a few months, and not only is James now a member of the Philadelphia 76ers, but we're learning some more insights into how he made his decision this summer, and how the Lakers' series against the Rockets actually played a crucial part in the whole ordeal.
Rockets series may have convinced LeBron not to retire
According to James' agent, Rich Paul, LeBron was legitimately considering retirement following the season. But his performance against the Rockets may have convinced him to extend his career further.
“That series, in my opinion, convinced him to keep playing," Paul said. "I truly believe that. I think if they somehow got swept or lose 4-1 in that series, it could be different. I think that gave us another ride.”
After news of his commitment to the 76ers went public, James took to Twitter/X and shared some thoughts on his decision.
He wrote that he thought he was done when the season ended, and that he just wasn't ready to announce it. Obviously, with more time spent relaxing and thinking things through, James said he came to a different state of mind. And based on Paul's testimony, the Rockets series may have played a big part in that.
It is interesting to think about what might have happened if the Lakers had been crushed by the Rockets and LeBron had had a subpar performance in round one. What kind of off-season outcome would we be staring at right now?
I personally still think LeBron would have come back no matter what happened, but I suppose it's a more interesting narrative for Paul and LeBron to craft in saying that things were more teetering on the edge.
Everything that Paul puts out into the public for engagement, I take with a grain of salt, such as the notion that James would have absolutely joined the New York Knicks had they not won the title. I found that hard to believe.
But again, it's all for entertainment and engagement purposes.
The point here is that LeBron James proved in the first round that he's still one of the best players in the NBA when he wants to be, and when he needs to be. This is why it made all the sense in the world for him to keep playing.
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