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LeBron James has defied Father Time for years now and shows no signs of slowing down. He continues to play at an elite level and remains the centerpiece of the Los Angeles Lakers’ championship hopes. But realistically, how much longer can he keep this up? Udonis Haslem, for one, doesn’t see his era coming to a close anytime soon.
Most basketball players begin a steady decline around the age of 35. Even if their skills hold up, injuries usually catch up. But in James’ case, none of that seems to apply. That said, he will be 41 this year. Many, including LeBron’s former teammate Mike Miller, doubt we’ll see the same intensity from him in the coming season.
That’s what he asked Haslem, another teammate of Bron’s, on the OG podcast. And the 44-year-old does not doubt that James will continue to make history when the 2025-26 NBA season kicks off. Age, in his mind, will play no role in limiting The King’s greatness.
“There’s no doubt in my mind, dog,” Haslem said. “We got a chance to see that first hand…”
“I trust the work, I don’t trust the age. I don’t trust what people say, I trust the work. That’s my slogan to my kids. Don’t listen to me, trust the work… And the work that that man put in, there’s no doubt in my mind, there’s no question, that he’s gonna continue to be able to continue to play.”
Haslem, like Miller, has been teammates with Bron during arguably his best years in the NBA. He saw the Akron-born superstar dominate the league with the Heat and understands the amount of training he puts behind the scenes.
But Miller didn’t seem too convinced by the idea of a 41-year-old basketball player still playing most of the 48 minutes and averaging the numbers LeBron did in the 2024-25 season. Haslem, however, simply asked, “Why not? If you train yourself, then why not? Golly, we always talk about habits, I mean, these are the habits. And at this stage of the game for Bron, it’s not even habits no more. This is a lifestyle.”
If James performs as well as (or perhaps better than) he did last season, when he averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game while shooting 51% from the field, it will be a historic campaign. No 41-year-old has ever put up those numbers.
But in all fairness, it’s possible he adjusts his style of play to avoid injury. That explosive athleticism, which made him who he is today, could take a step back, and he might take a backseat to let superstar Luka Doncic run the show.
More must-reads:
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ESPN experts make bold prediction over LeBron James' future
Earlier this summer, LeBron James opted into his $52.6 million player option with the Los Angeles Lakers. That decision ensures he will remain with the franchise for the upcoming season before entering unrestricted free agency. James, 40, inevitably faced questions regarding his long-term future in the NBA after making his decision. After all, he will turn 41 in the coming months, and somehow continues to defy the aging process. However, in a recent poll of 20 NBA experts, including coaches, scouts and front-office executives from ESPN, seven of them predicted that James will remain with the Lakers beyond this season. "It just feels like it's where it's going to end," a Western Conference scout said. The Lakers are well-positioned to contend for a championship in the near future. GM Rob Pelinka has spent the summer adding talent and depth to the Lakers rotation, including the additions of Marcus Smart, Deandre Ayton and Jake LaRavia. If the Lakers fall short this season, it's fair to assume James would run it back for another shot at a fifth championship ring. LeBron James isn't concerned about his age In a recent interview for "CGTN Sports Scene," James addressed discussions surrounding his age. "Nah, age doesn’t matter," James said. "Age is just a number for sure. I definitely feel, you know, energetic. You know, anytime I’m out there on the floor trying to give everything I got to my teammates, you know, it’s about that win." Given his production in recent years, James is certainly living by that mantra. He's continued to be among the most productive players in the NBA in terms of offense. Furthermore, he's significantly improved his perimeter-based game in recent years, allowing him to limit his drives to the rim. LeBron James has a chance to add to his legacy James has only won one title since joining the Lakers. He undoubtedly wants to end his career on a high note. Therefore, it makes sense that he will stick around while the franchise is among the favorites to hoist another banner. Ending his career after winning a fifth championship ring would be a fantastic way to bow out of the league. It would mean he left on his own terms, with complete control of his own narrative. And, considering James has been at the top of the league for more than two decades, it would be a fitting end to a legendary career. For that reason, ESPN's panel of experts may be on to something.
Packers HC Matt LaFleur explains what's making him upset
Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur isn't happy after his team dropped a NFL Week 3 contest to the previously winless Cleveland Browns. It was a game that the Packers should have won, by all accounts. They gave in as a favorite on the road because over the first two weeks of the season, they looked like a legitimate Super Bowl contender. That's feedback the Packers were apparently taking to heart before the Cleveland game, in a bad way. This was a team that was clearly overconfident and a squad that perhaps got caught looking at the big picture rather than than the week-to-week grind of the NFL. Heck, offensive tackle Rasheed Walker was talking about an undefeated season before the Week 3 loss. "I think we can go undefeated, honestly," Walker had said. LaFleur calls out the Packers The end result of the Packers' overconfidence was a disappointing 13-10, last-second loss that was ugly, sloppy and uninspiring. The Packers suffered a terrible Jordan Love interception that swung the game, and they lost on a last-second field goal after having what could have been a game-winning attempt of their own blocked. On Monday, LaFleur was clearly fed up and frustrated. "I've said it a million times to you guys — I don't think I've obviously said it enough to our team — the goal is to go 1-0 every week," he said, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN. "And it pisses me off when we start talking about things outside of the next game. Things that are way down the road. Like, focus on, keep the focus on the present, on the now, and worry about getting better each and every day." Everyone else can look at the big picture, and for what it's worth, in the grand scheme of things, this is still a Packers team that can win the Super Bowl this season. They've got an elite defense that held Cleveland to zero points through three quarters, and when they're clicking, Love leads an offense that can put up points. A Week 3 loss won't determine the Packers' ultimate Super Bowl aspirations, but it's absolutely a sign that this team needs to get focused and stop reading its own press clippings. The phrase "any given Sunday" is around for a reason. The other team gets paid to try to beat you each and every single week, and the Packers clearly forgot that was the case with the Browns. Can they learn from it? That's clearly the message that LaFleur is trying to get across to his team. "I think it's always a good reminder, like, 'Hey guys, pump the brakes on everything. We're just trying to win one game at a time,'" LaFleur said. "And if you're thinking [beyond that] or have your sights set on anything outside of that, I think you're focused on the wrong things. Like, we've got to be focused on trying to get better. Obviously today, the focus is on first of all being honest about the tape and what the tape says, and then learning from that, and then it's moving on."
Why did the Orioles activate star player during last week of season?
Ahead of the final six games of the season (all against American League East foes), the Baltimore Orioles have activated catcher Adley Rutschman. The move may have little to do with this season and everything about what the Orioles may do with Rutschman in the offseason. Sidelined with a right oblique strain since Aug. 21 (retroactive to Aug. 18), Rutschman has struggled this season, slashing just .227/.310/.373 with nine homers and 29 RBI. His OPS+ of 92 is the lowest in the four years he has been behind the plate in Baltimore. While the Orioles certainly would like to get the former No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft back behind the plate to finish out the season, this short six-game stint against the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees may also serve as an audition for Rutschman should the Orioles decide to move him in the offseason. Why would the Orioles move on from Rutschman? After playing in just four games, Baltimore signed 21-year-old catcher Samuel Basallo to an eight-year extension worth $67M and could jump up to $88.5M with incentives. The deal means Basallo will be with Baltimore through the 2033 season and has an option to extend that to 2034 as well. With the Orioles investing so much in Basallo, could the 27-year-old Rutschman be on his way out of Charm City? Baltimore could well keep the younger and cost-controlled Basallo behind the plate and use Rutschman as a trade piece this offseason, helping the Orioles rebuild quickly from a season where they will likely finish in the division cellar. With Rutschman coming back, he has the chance to put a positive spin on what has been a disappointing season. If he can show well in the final six games, it could be a great selling point for the Orioles this offseason in any kind of trade talks surrounding him. Orioles are faced with one of two options with Basallo and Rutschman Baltimore interim manager Tony Mansolino has already hinted that Basallo and Rutschman could be in the same lineup together in 2026, emphasizing that Basallo could play first base (a position that could likely be his in 2026 if the Orioles decide to not push Coby Mayo there). Mansolino also added that between first base, catcher and designated hitter, there may be enough at-bats for both Basallo and Rutschman. If that's the case, Baltimore is believing that not only can Basallo play first base at an MLB-level (he has played there in one game so far this season) and Rutschman can bounce back from a down 2025. Baltimore could likely land a nice return package (perhaps centered around pitching) if it decides to trade Rutschman in the offseason, something that MLB insider Bob Nightengale of USA Today believes will happen, writing, "There will be no bigger position player on the trade block this winter than Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman." These next six games may not determine much in the standings for the Orioles, but could give a hint about Rutschman's future and what is to come at catcher in 2026.
Bears get big injury updates ahead of Week 4 game against Raiders
While the Dallas Cowboys are dealing with a high ankle sprain that's expected to keep CeeDee Lamb out for at least two games, the Chicago Bears had a Week 3 injury scare of their own that, luckily, does not appear to be as severe. Rookie tight end Colston Loveland left the game early in the first half with what was described as a hip injury. As if to (quite literally) add insult to injury, this came just after his first big play of the year on a pass from Caleb Williams, when the rookie appeared on the verge of a breakout game. We still don't know too much about the hip injury to Loveland, but Bears fans at least now have an update, courtesy of ESPN's Adam Schefter. Apparently the Bears and Loveland dodged a bullet and the injury is not expected to be severe. Furthermore, the expectation is that he should be good to go next Sunday when the Bears travel to Las Vegas to face the Raiders. This is great news for the rookie. As the tenth overall pick of the 2025 NFL draft, he's expected to be a serious contributor to this team right away, and prior to Week 3 he had recorded just two receptions for 12 yards. That's not nearly good enough, especially not when Tyler Warren, who was the second tight end to be drafted this year, is already looking like a legitimate Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate. Loveland arguably has the most to prove for this team in 2025 and is going to need a lot more plays like his lone highlight from Sunday. Additionally, head coach Ben Johnson confirmed the medical outlook for Jaylon Johnson. The two-time Prow Bowl cornerback will undergo core muscle surgery, according to NFL insider Ian Rapaport, and should be able to return this season. In an ideal world for the Chicago Bears, by the time Johnson returns the Bears will be rolling and battling for their first playoff spot since 2020. The return of their star cornerback at that point would be a huge boost for this team and its fanbase.
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