LeBron James is entering his 23rd season in the NBA. No one has played more seasons than the Los Angeles Lakers star, and even though he can clearly perform at a high level, Father Time spares no victims.
The four-time NBA champion missed the first stretch of the season with a sciatica injury, which isn’t something you hear very often with pro athletes, let alone NBA players.
Then, he missed his team’s game with the New Orleans Pelicans with a foot injury.
That’s why, when asked about his health, the former No. 1 pick shared a brutally honest and hilarious response:
“It’s called (getting) old,” James said postgame, per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “You just wake up with s**t that you didn’t have the night before.”
“It’s called old. … You just wake up with s— that you didn’t have the night before.” — LeBron James on his left foot injury management designation that kept him out of Sunday’s game. Pic.twitter.com/YC0hGeuppd
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) December 2, 2025
This is most likely going to be status quo with James this season. The Lakers have fared quite well without him, and with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves to lead the way, they need to make sure that the future Hall of Famer is healthy and fresh for when it matters the most.
LeBron James fights to keep historic scoring streak alive
The Lakers couldn’t get past the visiting Phoenix Suns on Monday night, but the game meant much more for LeBron James.
His 18-year streak of 1,296 consecutive games scoring at least ten points was in jeopardy. He checked back despite the game being out of reach, and he took three shots in under a minute.
He ultimately knocked down a 27-foot three-pointer to reach double digits before coach J.J. Redick pulled him out of the game.
Of course, this sparked some criticism on social media. The Lakers entered the fourth quarter trailing by 19 points, and Doncic sat out the entire fourth quarter because the game was out of reach.
James had ten points on as many shots, extending a streak that began on January 6, 2007, to an NBA-record 1,297 games.
LeBron is the league’s all-time leading scorer, and he continues to make NBA history almost every time he sets foot on the court. At this point, piling up records might motivate him even more than winning a ring, and while some fans may take offense to that, he’s certainly earned the benefit of the doubt.
Through five games, James is averaging a career-low 15.2 points per game on 46% shooting from the floor, and he’ll look to keep that streak alive for a little longer, haters be damned.