Fresh Report Shows NBA Thriving Without LeBron James

Those concerns, however, may have been put to rest following a strong start to the 2025-26 season that came without him on the court.

The NBA got its first glimpse of a post-LeBron era after James was ruled out for the start of the 2025-26 campaign with a sciatica injury, which has so far sidelined him for the Los Angeles Lakers’ first 10 games. Despite his absence, the league reported record numbers early in the year.

The NBA announced Friday that, “the first two weeks of the 2025-26 NBA season have delivered the most viewers in 15 years, with viewership up 92% year-over-year for nationally televised games.”

That surge suggests the NBA continues to thrive even without its biggest name.

A new generation of stars has carried the torch in James’ absence, including Lakers’ Luka Doncic, Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo, Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic, San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama and reigning league MVP and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – all of whom have delivered standout performances to start the season. Veterans like Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry and Houston Rockets’ Kevin Durant have also shone for their respective teams.

As for James, he continues to make progress in his recovery. Per ESPN’s Shams Charania, the league’s all-time leading scorer has resumed individual workouts and is expected to advance to full five-on-five play soon. While his return is eagerly awaited, the league’s momentum shows it remains in strong hands.