LeBron James Opens Up On The Mental And Physical Toll Of The NBA Playoffs

On the cusp of his first playoff game of the season, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James opened up on the many battles to come. Now that the regular season is over, the King has gone into full playoff mode, and it's an exciting time for the fans.

“It’s an exciting time for all basketball fans and all the players that are a part of the postseason," said James, via Landon Buford. "It’s a great time for basketball, the competition ramps up. It’s always fun."

James, 40, is currently in his 18th NBA playoff run. With 10 Finals trips and four championships under his belt, James knows what it takes to win, and he knows how demanding it will be to lead this current Lakers team all the way.

“Playoffs demand everything from me,” James said. “Mentally, obviously, the physical toll that it’s gonna take because as the games ramp up, the intensity ramps up, the physicality ramps up, the referees in the league allow us to play more physically in the postseason, so your body takes a toll. But mentally, being able to have that mind sharp throughout a series, no matter if it’s going good or going bad. You always gotta try to stay even-keeled throughout the postseason in each series if you’re able to advance.”

Long before the 2025 playoffs, James was revered for his amazing longevity, which earned him a place at the top of the all-time scoring list. Even now, LeBron is playing elite-level basketball, and it's not lost on him how rare his position is.

“It’s a blessing, I don’t take it for granted to be able to play in the postseason at my age and how many years I’ve played this game,” James said. “To be one of 16 teams, to go in with this team and know what we’re capable of, all you can do is ask for a chance to be able to compete at the highest level and be able to compete for the ultimate thing, and that’s the Larry O’Brien Trophy. You just don’t take it for granted.”

Going into the 2024-25 campaign, the Lakers already had major title ambitions. With LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and new head coach JJ Redick, they were confident in their title chances and were hopeful for the future.

After the Luka Doncic trade in February, however, the timeline has shifted for the Lakers. At 26 years old and in the prime of his career, Luka is in a perfect position to take the reins of leadership from LeBron, and he's been slowly making the transition since his arrival.

Going into their first playoff run together (against Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves), James and Doncic have a lot to prove, and the road ahead will not be easy. In the wild Western Conference, the margin for error is slim, and sacrifice will be required to advance deep into the bracket.

The key for James and the Lakers is to stay cool and avoid putting too much importance on a win or loss. After 22 seasons in the NBA, LeBron isn't taking the moment for granted, and he's not going to let this opportunity for a championship pass him by without a fight.