LeBron James is still clearly one of the Los Angeles Lakers’ most important players on the squad, and his numbers show exactly why trade talk around him makes no sense.
On Sunday, he helped the Lakers rally past the Memphis Grizzlies 120–114. While doing that, he also broke yet another milestone, passing Chris Paul for second all-time in combined regular-season and playoff assists.
These kind of historic achievements help set him apart
If anyone thought LeBron was past his peak, this milestone alone should shut that down. The game itself was a perfect example of why he matters.
The Lakers trailed by 16 in the second quarter, but LeBron James helped spark the comeback. He finished the evening with 26 points, seven rebounds, and 10 assists in 37 minutes, shooting north of 57 percent from the field.
He did not just score, he set up teammates, controlled the pace, and made plays in crunch time. That is the kind of impact you can’t simply replace.
Passing Chris Paul for combined assists while already holding the all-time points record at 50,816 puts LeBron in a category all his own. He is the first player to lead in total points and rank second in total assists, proving he is still shaping games at an elite level.
With Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves carrying most of the scoring load on the team, LeBron can focus on distributing and orchestrating the offense. That balance is what keeps him fresh, effective, and deadly even at 41.
Some trade rumors suggest the Lakers should move on from him. Other rumors suggest the Lakers are in the market for a “needle-mover,” but that misses the bigger picture. LeBron is already the ultimate needle-mover.
He draws attention from defenses, opens lanes for others, and elevates the entire team. Trying to replace that with a single addition is risky; no player could replicate what he brings night after night.
Even with early-season rust from missing time due to injury, LeBron’s numbers continue to climb. He is not just keeping pace; he is rewriting history while guiding the Lakers.
At this point, it is clear that the Lakers’ focus should not be on trading him. Sunday night’s performance was a reminder that LeBron remains the heartbeat of the team, capable of changing the course of a game in ways no trade or free-agent signing could match.