Ahead of a matchup against the Sixers Sunday, LeBron James was questionable on the injury report with sciatica and left foot joint arthritis.
Yeah, 40-year-old problems.
But not only did James play, he closed the game in vintage fashion, going on a heater that ultimately helped the Lakers beat the Sixers 112-108. It was a reminder that LeBron is still That Dude in a career full of such moments.
“I told him, ‘Man, ain’t nothing wrong with your foot.‘ He’s out here left-hand dunking,” Tyrese Maxey said.
This is James’ 23rd season. He’ll turn 41 in a couple weeks. His longevity is remarkable, unparalleled by any player before him — and likely any player after him.
“I don’t think I want to play 23 years,” Maxey said when asked if James’ longevity inspires him. “I don’t think so.”
Maxey was no slouch himself Sunday evening. The 25-year-old guard continues to play at an All-NBA level, posting 28 points, nine assists, seven rebounds, two steals and two blocks. Unfortunately, he didn’t have much help. He was 11-of-24 from the field. The rest of the Sixers shot 25-of-78 (32%).
Still, it was a wildly entertaining night of basketball. High-level hoops, some might say. Xfinity Mobile Arena was packed. The crowd was loud — though perhaps a bit more for James than the home team.
But it was nice for that building to have life again. There wasn’t much last season (understandably). The year prior, a bunch of Knicks fans took it over in the playoffs, which was disheartening. The only similar energy that season was Joel Embiid’s 70-point game, which feels like at least one lifetime ago.
Maxey has helped bring that back a bit with his electric play and the Sixers’ high-wire act so far in 2025-26. James has been a mentor to Maxey throughout the years. Maxey is of course a client of Klutch Sports, the agency founded by James’ childhood friend, Rich Paul.
Even after a virtuoso performance, James was quick to heap praise on the Sixers’ star guard.
“I love the success, and the humbleness that Tyrese does it with,” he said. “It starts with his family and he’s just taking full advantage of the opportunity here and he’s made the most of it. … Obviously, I love his game, but I love him the person more than his game, and that’s tough to do as great as he is on the court.”
James and Maxey work out together every summer, getting to the gym at 5 or 6 a.m. If LeBron is an inspiration to Maxey in any way, it’s how much James still loves the game at his age and with all his accomplishments.
He’s inspired the next generation to cherish the game.
“I appreciate him like an older brother,” Maxey said. “I can call him and talk to him anytime. We can crack jokes with each other every now and then. He’s a good player … pretty good player.”
Who knows how many more of these performances LeBron has left? Who knows if this is the last time we’ll see him play in Philly?
King James made sure to give the birthplace of the nation its flowers as well.
“One thing you know about Philly fans is they don’t care about anyone besides their own teams,” he said. “And I respect that and I love that.”
The night was a good reminder of why we love basketball — to see the greatest athletes in the world do things we could only dream of doing.
In LeBron’s case, that means literally just about anyone who has ever picked up a basketball. So, enjoy him while you can. Love an ascending star like Maxey while he’s just scratching the surface of what he might ultimately become.
Let’s thank god this fuckery is going on for much longer than anyone could’ve imagined, as we see the torch slowly being passed.
