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CLEVELAND, OHIO - JANUARY 28: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena on January 28, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Lakers 129-99. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
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EL SEGUNDO, Calif. – Perhaps in a future biopic, LeBron James will give an impassioned speech on how an undermanned Los Angeles Lakers team can beat the Houston Rockets. It won’t happen in reality, though.
“No message,” James said after the Lakers’ practice on Thursday at the team’s facility.
James’ reasoning had nothing to do with having a hoarse voice at the end of practice. He stressed he didn’t lose his voice after yelling at teammates. Instead, James admittedly feels a little sick. Instead, James has refrained from using his voice because the messaging seems self-explanatory.
When the No. 4 Lakers play the Rockets beginning with Game 1 on Saturday at Crypto.com Arena, they are aware they will have to elevate their play without Luka Dončić (Grade 2 strained left hamstring) and Austin Reaves (Grade 2 left oblique strain). With the Rockets leading the NBA in rebounds per game (48.1), the Lakers are aware that
“What’s the message? It’s get your ass in there, box out and rebound,” James said. “They don’t need a message. They’re all grown men. Do your job.”
Hence, why the 41-year-old James has refrained from telling his teammates what to do. Instead, he has tried to set an example on how to do it.
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 18: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts against the Utah Jazz during the second quarter at Crypto.com Arena on November 18, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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How James planes to lead the Lakers
James accepted becoming the Lakers’ third option to accommodate Dončić’s scoring brilliance and Reaves’ growth. James eventually embraced a defensive-oriented role, hustle plays and intangibles. Without Dončić and Reaves, James will naturally assume the Lakers’ top option once again as both a scorer and playmaker. Unlike during the prime of his 23-year-old NBA career, James likely can’t single-handedly carry the Lakers through the playoffs, let alone the first round. He can help inspire his teammates to follow his team-oriented approach.
Has he seen his adaptability impact his teammates?
“I have no idea. You have to ask those guys,” James said. “I have to focus on what I can focus on and what the team needs and try to get better.”
Ask those guys, and it seems clear that James’ ignorance yields more humility.
“He sets the tone with buying into what the team needs,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “And he sets the tone every day in practice.”
At this stage of his career, James has tried setting the tone by embracing the current moment instead of worrying about the future implications. He admittedly has no idea when he will retire. He maintains uncertainty on whether he will re-sign with the Lakers or go elsewhere next season. He has conceded the challenge of competing without Dončić and Reaves.
Yet, James has concentrated more on focusing what he has than what he lacks. He has competed in the team’s stationary bike drills in hopes to keep his conditioning sharp. He has deferred to Redick and his coaching staff on how best to contain the Rockets’ Kevin Durant and Alperen Şengün. He has tried to elevate his teammates that include a potentially dominant center (Deandre Ayton), a defensive anchor (Marcus Smart), a proven shooter (Luke Kennard), a two-way wing (Rui Hachimura) and his improving son (Bronny James).
“We just need to have our mind open and ears open and listen to whatever he says because he knows the most,” Bronny said. “He’s only saying that because he wants to win so he’s going to help us do that and we just got to listen to him.”
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 22: LeBron James #23 and Bronny James #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers on defense during the second quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Crypto.com Arena on October 22, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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How LeBron feels about playing with Bronny in the playoffs
Bronny will like to listen to what James has to say about likely playing in the playoffs together.
“Every moment that we get another opportunity to play together, that’s something that I’ll never take for granted. But me being on the floor with him, postseason, regular season, training camp, practices, it’s the best thing that has ever happened to me in my career above everything that I’ve accomplished,” said James, who has also become a four-time NBA champion, three-time U.S. Olympic gold medalist and the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. “The fact that he put himself in a position to get his number called for a postseason game is pretty remarkable and pretty cool given the circumstances that he’s been through the last couple of years . So he’s earned it and deserves it. He’ll be ready.”
So will James, who still has purpose in his 20th postseason appearance.
It would be foolish to argue that James’ legacy will change based on a first-round matchup. If the Lakers lose to the Rockets, James still has a Hall-of-Fame resume with his championships and historical milestones. If the Lakers beat the Rockets, James still overcame far greater challenges. He helped the Cleveland Cavaliers become the first NBA franchise in league history to overcome a 3-1 Finals series deficit in 2016 against Golden State. He led the Lakers to the 2020 NBA title in a campus bubble in the middle of the pandemic without fans and without nearby family members for most of the trip.
James still has a sense of purpose, though. Just like how Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry showed his enduring excellence in a Play-In tournament win over the LA Clippers, James will want to do the same thing against the Rockets.
“A lot of the great players and best players, what they’re addicted to is being the showman with being on the stage and giving the performance,” Redick said. “You look at the greatest players in the NBA right now, they’re all pretty much showmen.”
Yet, it appears James wants to be a showman more with his actions than his speeches.
“The moment is all we have,” said James, who will soon find out whether that moment will become worthy of a movie despite the lacking speech.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com
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