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\u201cNothing changes for me from the regular season to the postseason,\u201d James said, \u201cbesides just making even more heightened focus.\u201d<\/p>\n
The consistent approach that guided him through 23 regular seasons puts James in position to star in another high-stakes game as the Lakers (53-29) chase the franchise\u2019s 18th NBA championship. James will command almost the entire spotlight with guards Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves<\/a> still sidelined.<\/p>\n The 41-year-old, 22-time All-Star has never had a problem with being a leading man.<\/p>\n \u201cI think a lot of the great players, the best players, what they’re addicted to is being the showman,\u201d Lakers coach JJ Redick<\/a> said, referencing Stephen Curry<\/a>\u2019s fourth-quarter heroics that pushed the Golden State Warriors<\/a> over the Clippers<\/a> in a thrilling play-in game Wednesday night. \u201cAnd being on the stage and giving a performance. \u2026<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Read more: Luka Doncic eligible for NBA’s postseason awards after league, NBPA rule in his favor<\/a><\/p>\n “One of the reasons they’re great and they’re able to be the showman so consistently is because they recognize [that] to be the showman, I have to do all the things necessary to then go on stage and perform at my best. And that’s the commitment with LeBron that I’ve talked about so often.\u201d<\/p>\n The stage is set for a star-studded first-round series with James and Houston\u2019s Kevin Durant<\/a>. The Rockets’ superstar rose to fifth on the NBA\u2019s all-time scoring list this season. He and James, the league\u2019s all-time leading scorer, have 76,037 combined regular-season points, more than the rest of the Lakers’ roster combined (57,341).<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s the head of the snake,\u201d James said of Durant. \u201cBut it\u2019s the Houston Rockets and they have some damned good players on that team.\u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Durant has the support of two-time NBA All-Star center Alperen Sengun<\/a>, who is averaging 20.4 points, 8.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game. James leads the Lakers alone. They\u2019re without Doncic (hamstring) and Reaves (oblique) indefinitely.<\/p>\n Since Doncic and Reaves were injured, James assumed the primary role in the Lakers’ offense and has delivered 25.5 points, 11 assists and 6.8 rebounds per game. Battling the emotional toll of Doncic\u2019s and Reaves\u2019 injuries, James set the tone for the Lakers\u2019 strong finish to the regular season with his vocal leadership and strong play, Redick said. His teammates are falling in line.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s been in the playoffs I don\u2019t know how many times,\u201d Lakers guard Bronny James<\/a> said. \u201cSo he\u2019s won series, won Finals, I think we just need to have our mind open and ears open and listen to whatever he says because he knows the most.”<\/p>\n Lakers star LeBron James and coach JJ Redick discuss strategy during a game against the Clippers this season. (Gina Ferazzi \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n After years of competing against each other in the NBA and with each other on the international stage, Durant said earlier this season that the Miami Heat<\/a> version of James was the hardest player he’s ever had to guard. James said every version of Durant feels like an impossible matchup.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n The 37-year-old scores in bunches and does it efficiently, Redick said. Durant hasn\u2019t shot worse than 50% from the field in a season since 2011-12. Now in his 18th season, Durant played the second-most total minutes of any player this season, trailing only 23-year-old teammate Amen Thompson<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a guard in a big man\u2019s body,\u201d Lakers guard Marcus Smart<\/a> said. \u201cI\u2019m 6-3 and he\u2019s 7-foot so he has that advantage and that\u2019s what makes it tough, because he\u2019ll shoot right over top of you it seems. But playing him the years that I have played him \u2014 and last month \u2014 it definitely gives you insight of what to expect.\u201d<\/p>\n Durant averaged 18 points, 5.5 rebounds and three assists in two losses to the Lakers in March. He shot 55.6% from the field but had 11 total turnovers. The Lakers, who often double-teamed Durant to take the ball out of his hands, forced 36 turnovers in the two wins.<\/p>\n The Lakers expect the same defensive pressure from the Rockets, who are ranked sixth defensively. Guards Reed Sheppard and Thompson both rank in the top 10 in the league in total steals with 122 and 119, respectively.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Smart and guard Luke Kennard<\/a> have taken larger ball-handling responsibilities along with James to offset the loss of Doncic<\/a> and Reaves. Bronny James is in line for rotation minutes in the Lakers\u2019 shorthanded backcourt. The 21-year-old guard has played in 10 consecutive games, the longest stretch of his young NBA career, averaging 6.6 points, two assists and a steal with seven-for-17 shooting from three-point range in the five games since Doncic and Reaves were injured.<\/p>\n Read more: Deandre Ayton knows the Lakers need him to be his best in the playoffs<\/a><\/p>\n Getting to share the court with his son, whether in regular-season games, practice or now the postseason, is \u201cthe best thing that\u2019s ever happened to me in my career,\u201d the elder James said.<\/p>\n With his future unknown beyond this season, James pledged all season to stay in the moment. The Lakers hope to make this postseason one last.<\/p>\n \u201cThe moment is all we have,\u201d James said. \u201cAt the end of the day, that\u2019s all that matters.\u201d<\/p>\n Sign up for our weekly newsletter on all things Lakers.<\/a><\/p>\n![\"LeBron](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ce0b5f32de8586d9e99bd240e553844e.jpeg\"\/)
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