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LeBron James kept it real when discussing the Lakers’ upcoming playoff run
The 2025-26 campaign hasn’t exactly been a walk in the park for the Los Angeles Lakers, but they still have an opportunity to make this season one to remember. And considering how this could end up being LeBron James‘ final year with the team, it’s safe to say that the Lakers know there’s going to be a lot on the line once the postseason rolls around.
This isn’t exactly James’ first rodeo, as he is notorious for going on a deep playoff run seemingly every year. While Los Angeles still has to make sure it will actually clinch a spot in the postseason, James is already getting himself ready for the action, as he recently detailed the strict regimen he follows once the playoffs roll around.
LeBron James Pulls Back the Curtain on His Playoff Mindset
James is in his 23rd season in the NBA, so if there’s anyone who knows what it takes to make it through the course of a full campaign, which could include playing well over 100 games, it’s him. And with the Lakers struggling to find their footing this season, they are going to need to rely on James’ veteran presence now more than ever.
For the first time during his stint in Los Angeles, though, it appears as if James’ time with the team could be coming to an end. Rumors about him joining a new team, or outright retiring from basketball, have been popping up for months now, and it’s not a stretch to suggest that his future could be determined by how the remainder of the Lakers’ season unfolds.
All that stuff can be figured out in the future, though. With Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves playing alongside him, James has a great opportunity to go on another Finals run this season. And in order to do that, James is willing to do pretty much anything, as he revealed he goes months without using his phone during the postseason so that he can stay as locked in on basketball as possible.
“Who’s going to hold me more accountable than myself?” James said on “Mind The Game.” “Through a whole playoff run, I would turn my phone off completely. If my loved ones wanted to get in contact with me, Randy (Mims) was with me every day. Maverick (Carter) would be around … They can call them and if it was an emergency, they will come. If we was on the road, they come knock on my door … Nobody could get in contact with me for two-and-a-half straight months.”
LeBron James, Lakers Still Have Work to Do to Make the Playoffs
GettyLos Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James reacts in a game. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times
Of course, talk of a potential playoff run for Los Angeles is still premature right now. While the Lakers have a 37-24 record, that’s only good enough for sixth place in the Western Conference. Just two games separate them and the Phoenix Suns in the standings, so it’s not out of the picture to suggest that they could wind up in the Play-In Tournament when all is said and done.
Still, the odds seem to favor the Lakers making the playoffs, and assuming they get there, the team should benefit greatly from having James leading the way once again. For now, though, L.A. needs to continue working on winning as many games as possible, with its next contest being against the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night.
Owen Crisafulli Owen Crisafulli is a Breaking News Writer at Heavy. In addition to writing for Heavy, Owen works as a Content Producer for More Views Media. His work has also appeared on ClutchPoints, The Sporting News, Athlon Sports, Basketball Network, and FanSided, where he shared his insights on a variety of sports topics primarily surrounding the NFL, NBA, and MLB. More about Owen Crisafulli
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