LeBron James delivered his most concerning physical update yet, openly acknowledging that his ability to recover from routine practice work is deteriorating.
Speaking after completing his first full practice session in days, LeBron admitted he “has to see how his body responds in the next 24 hours plus” before determining his availability for the Los Angeles Lakers‘ upcoming matchup with the Utah Jazz.
His voice was raspy, his breathing clearly strained – and then came the quote that set off alarms across the NBA. “My lungs feel like a newborn baby,” LeBron said.
It was a startling admission. Newborn lungs are underdeveloped, fragile and inefficient – the opposite of what an elite athlete’s respiratory system should resemble. While LeBron was like exaggerating for effect, it still underlines why many are worried for his future.
For LeBron, now in his 40s and carrying more NBA mileage than almost any player in league history, the comparison was telling.
It was viewed as a metaphor for diminishing lung capacity, slower recovery and the natural physical decline that even legends cannot escape.
A rare moment of vulnerability from a player defined by durability
Throughout his career, LeBron James has become synonymous with longevity. For two decades, he has avoided the catastrophic injuries that derail most careers, maintaining elite output deep into his late 30s.
But this season has been different. LeBron has spoken more frequently about how long it takes his body to recover.
He’s also been visibly careful with his minutes, and now he’s acknowledging that even his lungs – once an endless engine – are struggling to keep up.
His rasping voice after practice was noticeable. According to those present, LeBron spent portions of the session catching his breath, then joked grimly about how practicing at full speed left him winded.
For younger players, that’s normal fatigue. For LeBron, it’s a sign of transition into the final chapter.
While LeBron has not set an official retirement date, league insiders have long speculated that this era is wrapping up sooner rather than later.
He has admitted several times that he thinks about the end “more than people realize,” and that while he could play several more years, he does not necessarily want to.
LeBron’s body may be giving up
Sports scientists note that lung elasticity and aerobic capacity naturally weaken around age 40. For a player who built his legacy on explosiveness, pace and relentless attacking force, even subtle declines in oxygen efficiency can dramatically alter performance.
LeBron appears not just aware of this shift – he’s acknowledging it publicly, and this leaves the Los Angeles Lakers positioned at a crossroads.
The franchise has built its identity around LeBron James for years, but his latest admission may accelerate the need to plan decisively for a future built around younger stars.
The Lakers have long hoped to squeeze a final championship run out of the LeBron era, but his comments – and his difficulty recovering from even a single practice – paint a very different picture.
Rather than chasing more titles, the priority may become ensuring that his final years are managed responsibly, without risking severe long-term health issues.
“My lungs feel like a newborn baby” may go down as one of the most sobering lines of LeBron James‘ later career – a simple, human reminder that even the most extraordinary athletes must eventually face limitations.
It was said because for the first time, LeBron cannot hide the truth: his body no longer recovers the way it once did. And when breathing itself becomes a battle, retirement stops being a distant concept and becomes a realistic – perhaps even necessary – next step.
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