As Lakers & LeBron James shine, Brian Windhorst admits he thought retirement was near

Father Time might be undefeated, but LeBron James is currently taking him to the limit. Despite being 41 years old, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar continues to defy logic, even if some of the league’s most seasoned insiders were ready to write his basketball obituary just a few months ago.

Appearing on the Dan Patrick Show, ESPN reporter Brian Windhorst dropped a fascinating nugget regarding the future of the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. Windhorst admitted that when James first returned from a sciatica issue in late 2025, he looked like a shadow of himself. The dip in play was so alarming that Windhorst actually held meetings with his bosses to prepare for the end of an era.

“He looked for the first time like an old man who can’t compete,” Windhorst said. “I remember watching when he first came back… and saying, ‘Oh, this might be it.’ In fact, I had a meeting with my bosses and I go, ‘You know, we may need to start our content planning for him retiring.’”

Fast forward to April 2026, and those retirement plans are gathering dust in a drawer. Through the first two games of the opening-round series against the Houston Rockets, James has been nothing short of spectacular. He is currently averaging 22 points, four rebounds, and four assists per game, leading the Lakers to a commanding 2-0 series lead.

What makes this run even more impressive is the state of the roster. The Lakers are currently short-handed, with superstar teammate Luka Doncic sidelined by a hamstring injury and Austin Reaves out with an oblique strain. Despite the missing star power, James has carried the load, outdueling Kevin Durant and a gritty Rockets squad that has struggled to contain the “King” in the fourth quarter.

If ESPN was worried about needing retirement content, they might be waiting a while longer. As the series shifts to Houston for Game 3, LeBron James is proving that he still owns the postseason stage.

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