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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 28: Lebron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers in action against the Sacramento Kings at Crypto.com Arena on December 28, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Lakers may have their ageless superstar back sooner than expected.
The Lakers upgraded LeBron James to questionable for Sunday’s game against the visiting New York Knicks after the four-time MVP sat out Friday’s win over the Indiana Pacers while dealing with a left elbow contusion.
James missed the Lakers’ 128–117 victory over Indiana, choosing to rest what the team described as an accumulation of minor injuries during his record-setting 23rd NBA season.
In his absence, Luka Dončić delivered a dominant performance that helped keep the Lakers rolling.
Dončić erupted for 44 points through three quarters, hitting seven three-pointers while adding nine rebounds before resting the entire fourth quarter as Los Angeles secured its fourth win in five games.
While the Lakers remain cautious with James’ injury, the upgrade to questionable suggests a potential return as early as Sunday.
Luka Dončić Carries Lakers in LeBron’s Absence
Dončić wasted little time filling the offensive void created by James’ absence.
The five-time All-NBA guard scored 44 points on 14-of-25 shooting, drilling seven three-pointers and controlling the game from the opening minutes.
Los Angeles built enough separation that Dončić was able to sit the final quarter while the Lakers closed out the win comfortably.
The performance helped the Lakers quickly rebound from Thursday’s 120–113 loss to the Denver Nuggets, a game in which James sustained the elbow injury late in the fourth quarter after falling to the court following a basket over Nikola Jokić.
Despite James’ absence, the Lakers maintained momentum thanks to Dončić’s offensive explosion and balanced contributions from the supporting cast.
LeBron James Reflects on Approaching Retirement
Even as he manages injuries late in his career, James has continued to reflect on what the end of his legendary NBA journey might look like.
The 41-year-old superstar recently acknowledged he is entering the final stage of his career while discussing retirement in an interview with the California Post.
“I kind of look at it like when you lose a loved one and you have a funeral,”James told the California Post. “People tend to be sad, but it’s also a celebration of life.”
For James, the moment will represent gratitude rather than loss.
“I think for me, when I’m done with this game, it’ll be a celebration of life and not of loss,” he said. “It’ll be a celebration of everything I’ve been able to accomplish in this game, everything I’ve put into it. The moments, all the love.”
Lakers Star Still Producing in Historic 23rd Season
Even at age 41, James continues to perform at an elite level.
The Lakers forward is currently playing in his 23rd NBA season, the longest career in league history.
He is averaging 21.6 points, 7.0 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game while shooting 50.2 percent from the field.
James recently added another milestone to his historic résumé when he surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most field goals in NBA history.
His record-breaking basket — a turnaround jumper during the first quarter against Denver — gave him 15,838 career field goals, passing Abdul-Jabbar’s previous mark of 15,837.
Maintaining All-Star-level production this deep into a career remains unprecedented in modern basketball.
Lakers Monitoring Injury Ahead of Knicks Matchup
For now, the Lakers’ immediate focus remains on James’ health as the team prepares to face New York.
The elbow contusion that sidelined him Friday is not believed to be a long-term injury, but the team continues to manage his workload carefully given his importance to the playoff race.
Upgrading James to questionable signals that his return could be imminent.
If cleared to play Sunday, James would rejoin Dončić in a star-powered Lakers lineup aiming to maintain momentum in the Western Conference standings.
For the Lakers, balancing caution with urgency will be key as the regular season winds down.
For James, every game played now adds another chapter to one of the most extraordinary careers in NBA history — a journey he hopes will ultimately be remembered not with sadness, but with appreciation.
Alder Almo is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com. He has more than 20 years of experience in local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Alder is from the Philippines and is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey. More about Alder Almo
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