The Los Angeles Lakers are on a roll, winning their seventh consecutive game on Wednesday. And the star of their 124-116 victory over the Houston Rockets was LeBron James. JJ Redick, while watching in awe at how the 41-year-old was mastering Father Time, took an inward journey.
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Redick was self-reflecting because of how good James was. He scored 30 points in 34 minutes, jumped athletically at every rebound, went for contested shots, and wasn’t afraid to attack the rim. James and Redick are of the same age.
Sure, Redick is the head coach calling plays from the touchline. But that doesn’t mean he isn’t a tad jealous watching the King so strong, fast, and fit, while he remains relatively out of shape.
“Watching him is actually, probably makes me feel like a loser,” Redick admitted post-game. “Every time he falls on the ground, every time he has a box out, every time he gets hit hard and transitions… I feel it too.”
Redick had spent 15 years in the league before retiring in 2021. He then became the Lakers coach in 2024 and has proven to have a smart basketball mind. However, he is not in the physical shape of an NBA player right now, which is fine.
We are sure Redick knows that it’s fine, too. And through his words, the coach was giving a nod to James’ longevity and work ethic.
“I’m just so out of shape right now, it’s remarkable. This is what I was talking about with him. It’s just the preparation that he puts into his body over and over and over again, and to me, that’s the ultimate sign of competitive stamina. He just holds on to it every single day, and he gets ready to ring the bell,” Redick added.
James has been the face of the league for over two decades now. And, heading into the 2025-26 season, there were strong rumors that he was considering retirement. That may still be true, and he may just drop a bombshell any day now. For the sake of the sport, we hope not. The way he performed against the Rockets makes us believe he has at least a couple more years left in him.
However, if James and the Lakers end up winning the chip this year, that may well and truly provide a storybook ending to arguably one of the greatest careers ever.
