Yardbarker
Yardbarker
x
Unconvinced by Age, Udonis Haslem Is Certain LeBron James Will Continue to Dominate
Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

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.

This article first appeared on The SportsRush and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST

Pistons Signing Colby Jones To Two-Way Deal
NBA

Pistons Signing Colby Jones To Two-Way Deal

The Detroit Pistons are expected to sign NBA free agent shooting guard Colby Jones to a two-way contract, per Shams Charania of ESPN. Jones, 23, had a solid finish to last season with the Washington Wizards after being acquired from the Sacramento Kings in a three-team trade at the February deadline. In 15 games with Washington, he averaged 8.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 25.7 minutes per night, shooting 46.6 percent from the field. He was then traded to the Thunder in June, but Oklahoma City quickly waived his non-guaranteed contract for 2024-25, making him an unrestricted free agent. Jones was originally selected by Sacramento with the No. 34 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft after a standout run at Xavier. This will be his first time on a two-way deal, giving him a chance to stick with a rebuilding Pistons team still sorting out its depth on the perimeter. Detroit already has Ron Harper Jr. and Tolu Smith signed to two-way contracts. Jones would presumably take the team’s third and final slot. More NBA News Rumors

Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani ties franchise record with HR vs. Twins
MLB

Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani ties franchise record with HR vs. Twins

MLB's midseason break was kind to Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter and starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani. On Wednesday, the three-time MVP tied a Dodgers franchise record with a home run in his fifth consecutive game, taking Minnesota Twins right-handed starting pitcher Chris Paddack 441 feet to centerfield on an 0-2 79 mph curveball in the bottom of the first inning. Ohtani entered the All-Star break with 32 home runs but had just two in his 12 previous games before beginning his current streak. He's appeared in 101 of L.A.'s 103 games, putting him on pace for 159 games this season. If Ohtani continues at his home run trajectory, he'll set a personal record for single-season home runs, breaking the record he established last season, his first with the Dodgers. Per ESPN Bet, Ohtani (-1800) is an overwhelming favorite to be named NL MVP for the second consecutive season. With every home run hit, his odds of receiving a fourth overall MVP award likely increase. Also helping Ohtani's case is his return to the mound after not pitching a season ago while rehabbing from 2023 surgery. The Dodgers have slowly eased him back, with Ohtani throwing 12 innings in six starts, allowing nine hits and two earned runs with 13 strikeouts. Per Baseball Savant, he ranks in the top six percent in average fastball velocity (97.8 mph), a promising sign as he continues his progression. While the Dodgers keep him on a pitch count, Ohtani didn't need much warming up at the plate following the in-season break to find his swing. Some might argue he's already in postseason form.

Maple Leafs continue to play moneyball: Three big names in play
NHL

Maple Leafs continue to play moneyball: Three big names in play

With Mitch Marner’s move to the Vegas Golden Knights closing a major chapter in Toronto, GM Brad Treliving made a series of moves to replace his production. He might not be done. Three may be even bolder moves on the horizon. We’ve heard the names Calle Jarnkrok and David Kampf before. However, the Maple Leafs are actively fielding and exploring trade scenarios as they look to reshape their roster — and according to Nick Kypreos, a handful of intriguing names are emerging in trade chatter: Morgan Rielly, Brandon Carlo, and former Leafs fan-favorite Nazem Kadri. The most surprising name still generating buzz is Rielly. Despite being a longtime cornerstone on Toronto’s blue line, his $7.5 million cap hit and no-move clause complicate matters. Yet with the team needing help up front, and possible interest in offensive defensemen like Pittsburgh’s Erik Karlsson, Rielly could become part of a larger plan if he’s open to waiving. Also surprising is the talk surrounding Carlo. A recent addition to the Leafs’ defense corps, he is already being talked about behind the scenes as a potential trade piece. If he were made available, there is interest around the league, as the 6-foot-6 shutdown defender has a team-friendly cap hit and strong penalty-killing ability. Trading Carlo could get the Leafs a top-six forward. Finally, reports on the availability of Kadri remain conflicting. Some say he’s not available, while others suggest that the Calgary Flames would consider the idea. The former Maple Leaf would be a welcome addition back to Toronto, but there isn’t much of a reason for the Flames to trade him unless the return is outstanding. Kadri reportedly would consider waiving his no-move clause for a reunion. That said, getting a deal done won’t be easy, especially with Montreal also rumored to be on his short list. Whether any of these deals come to pass or are just pure speculation, one thing’s sure: the Maple Leafs aren’t standing still. Treliving is trying to get his roster to score more goals. He seems willing to entertain any idea and play Moneyball with the roster if it will help.

Telling hint emerges about leader in Browns QB race
NFL

Telling hint emerges about leader in Browns QB race

A clear frontrunner appears to be separating himself from the pack in the Cleveland Browns’ QB room. Browns quarterback Kenny Pickett handled all of the first-team offense reps in 11-on-11 drills during the first day of training camp on Wednesday, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN reported. Meanwhile, Dillon Gabriel received the second-team reps, Shedeur Sanders received the third-team reps, and Joe Flacco did not receive any 11-on-11 reps at all, Oyefusi added. Cleveland has one of the most hotly-contested and uncertain QB races of the NFL offseason. With Deshaun Watson (Achilles) set to miss the entire 2025 season, the Browns acted quickly this offseason by trading for Pickett, re-signing Flacco, and then selecting both Gabriel and Sanders in the NFL Draft. Pickett, 27, indeed looks like the best option for Cleveland right now. He has already made 25 total starts in the NFL and won a Super Bowl last season as Jalen Hurts’ backup on the Philadelphia Eagles. That gives Pickett a leg up over the rookies Gabriel and Sanders, and he is also far younger than the 40-year-old Flacco. Previous reports during OTAs suggested that Flacco, who made a handful of starts for the Browns in 2023, was looking surprisingly good under center. But more recently, some Cleveland players were predicting that Pickett would end up as the ultimate winner of the race. Meanwhile, Gabriel had reportedly looked a little rough over the last couple of months, and Sanders still appears to have plenty of work to do as well (though he has received rave reviews from some notable team figures). With a rookie unlikely to get the starting nod to begin the year, it may be a two-horse race between Pickett and Flacco (with Pickett now seemingly pulling away).

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!