LeBron James is looking to enter the history books! He’s on the cusp of his 23rd NBA season, a mark no player has ever achieved. This season, he will continue his journey with the Los Angeles Lakers, stepping onto the court in his iconic gold No. 23 uniform. Looking into the 2025-26 season James is adjusting to life off the court. He’s fine-tuning his craft and physical preparation, focused on bringing home a championship for his team.
James admitted earlier this month that he’s had some concerns with how his contract situation has played out, but that has not affected his performance on the court. In June, he picked up a $52.6 million player option for this season. This will be the first time in eight seasons that he starts a season without an expiring contract. Even in this unusual situation, James was firm in his belief that he would be able to compete at an elite level.
The four-time NBA champion to playoff legend status just received his first All-NBA Second Team selection! This season was a difficult one after he endured a Grade 2 MCL sprain of his left knee in the Lakers’ play-in elimination game against Minnesota. As he gets ready for the upcoming slate of competition, James is paying especially close attention to how he’s feeling. He wants to get as close to 100% as he can without jeopardizing retirement.
“My first details for me personally to pay attention to will be getting my body ready to sustain over an 82-game season,” James stated during the Lakers’ media day. He realized he might be limited throughout the training camp/preseason. This should be a sign that he is being very cautious with his return from injury.
In addition to focusing on his health, James is dedicated to ensuring that the Lakers are prepared for the challenges ahead. He emphasized the need for his team to be detailed in both offensive and defensive strategies as they navigate a competitive Western Conference.
“That we’re detailed every day. We have to be detailed. And the Western Conference is a gauntlet. The league is tough and we have to be detailed on everything, on all facets of the game, both offensively and defensively,” James remarked.
He stressed the need for accountability to each other even more, talking about how to play championship basketball you need to be working at it every day.
The veteran Wing is jacked to be reunited with some familiar faces — her fellow teammate at the last four WNBA Championship series, Teammate Luka Doncic…As James prepares for this historic chapter in his career, he remains focused on what truly matters: winning.
“For me, it’s just, am I still excited about the process? Do I still get motivated about the process every single year?” James asked, reflecting on his commitment to the game.
As he trains and conditions himself for the upcoming season, James remains aware of the expectations surrounding him and his team. His goal, he says, is to focus on the little things that help off the court lead to success on the court.
“But we got to pay attention to the details and I think we will do that,” he asserted.
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