LeBron James has spent more than 20 years in the NBA, long enough that the usual milestones no longer apply.
This season, the questions surrounding the Los Angeles Lakers star feel different, shaped less by the chase for another accomplishment and more by curiosity about what comes next.
Kendrick Perkins said recently that James should think about walking away, insisting he has “nothing left to prove,” and that sentiment has echoed louder as the year unfolds.
No one from James‘ camp has confirmed anything, but the speculation only needs small sparks to reignite.
As the Lakers prepared to face the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Cup quarterfinal, James wandered near the bench and, with a few minutes left before tip-off, began practicing a golf swing.
Cameras picked it up, posts flew across social platforms, and suddenly fans were treating the clip like a riddle about retirement.
Even with the attention swirling around him, James has spent a surprising amount of time talking about others on the roster. One player in particular keeps coming up in conversation.
A rising teammate shapes the conversation in unexpected ways
On the latest episode of “Mind The Game,” the podcast he co-hosts, James spoke at length about the development of Austin Reaves, whose jump this season has been one of the Lakers‘ brighter stories.
“AR has picked up exactly where he left off of, the confidence,” LeBron said.
“He’s also healthier this year than he was last year, and I know he sat out a couple games this year, but last year he was dealing with a toe issue late in the season.
“So he came into this season a lot healthier, but also with just the confidence. Understanding that his role is gonna continue to pick up,” James said.
Reaves wasn’t supposed to become a focal point. He arrived as an undrafted signing, expected to earn his place the hard way behind Luka Doncic.
Instead, he surged into the starting lineup and is now delivering some of the most impressive numbers of his young career: 28.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game.
His growth has changed the flow of the Lakers‘ season and created a sense that the team is evolving while James remains its anchor.
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