The Lakers during the 2025-26 season have struggled significantly due to the absence of their great star, LeBron James. Everything seems to indicate that with 23 seasons in the NBA, his body is beginning to demand payment for the long journey he has traveled throughout his legendary career.
The team has suffered greatly when he has been unavailable; however, it has managed to move forward. Yet when Bron is on the court, the team becomes something entirely different and fully empowers his teammates, so victories continue to be the constant.
His great performances have been a recurring theme throughout more than two decades of action in the league. Anyone who has watched him play knows perfectly well what to expect from him. He is one of the competition’s all-time greats and will remain so until the day he decides to hang up his sneakers.
Spectacular performances that continue to cement him as the great ‘King’ James
In the matchup against the Denver Nuggets, dramatically, James once again relied on that magic that has accompanied him for 23 years, and that keeps him among the greatest players in the history of basketball.
Even JJ Redick was surprised by what his player did at 41 years old, an age when many already want to see him retire, yet he refuses and continues challenging the god Chronos.
As the game entered its final stage, LeBron did something that drew admiration because of his commitment to the team and his determination to make it clear that nothing should be taken for granted, and that every possible ball must be fought for.
The ‘King’ threw himself toward a loose ball with a full extension across the floor to secure it and then force a jump ball possession. This type of play is usually seen in younger players or even rookies, but with this action, the four-time NBA champion made it clear that he goes after everything.
During the postgame press conference following the hard-fought overtime victory, Redick admitted he did not expect James to make a play like that.
I told him after the game in 23 years of watching you play in the NBA, and the three years I watched you play in high school, I never saw you make a full-out extension dive like that.”…”And he said, ‘You’re right. I’ve never done that.’ It’s awesome. I know he’ll feel that tomorrow. That’s a winning play.
Redick said.
The matchup was extremely intense for both teams, who continue battling side by side for a better position in the Western Conference. It is also worth highlighting the great performance by Luka Doncic, who delivered a triple-double and the game-winning shot when the contest reached overtime.
LeBron James is thrilled with Luka Doncic’s performance
The Slovenian player shone with a remarkable performance this past Saturday, March 14, 2026, against the Denver Nuggets. The Lakers star released his shot with only 0.5 seconds remaining on the clock to secure the 127-125 victory.
With the win against Denver, the Lakers climbed to third place in the Western Conference. Ahead of them are only the San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Los Angeles record now stands at 42-25, keeping them, after several complicated weeks, as serious contenders to compete for the championship.
Upcoming Lakers games
These are the next matchups for the Los Angeles Lakers:
- Houston Rockets Monday, March 16
- Houston Rockets, Wednesday, March 18
- Miami Heat Thursday, March 19
- Orlando Magic Saturday, March 21
- Detroit Pistons Monday, March 23
The Lakers do not want to lose momentum heading into their upcoming games and aim to maintain third place, or potentially capitalize on any stumble by the Spurs to climb into second place.
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