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Dave McMenamin
Multiple Authors
HOUSTON — After LeBron James led the Los Angeles Lakers to a 98-78 Game 6 victory over the Rockets on Friday to clinch their first-round series, the 41-year-old allowed himself a rare instance to embrace the accomplishment.
“It’s not my style at all,” James told ESPN after posting 28 points, eight assists and seven rebounds in the closeout victory. “I think me personally, the accepting and trying to be OK with the small victories comes with where I am in my career. Understanding, s—, who knows how many more playoff series I’m going to be a part of? If I play one more or two more or three more seasons, that doesn’t guarantee me to be in the postseason. So just trying to appreciate the moments, whatever it is, and however long I’m playing.
“It’s pretty cool to have the opportunity to lead a team, at 41 years old, into the playoffs and for us to be able to win it.”
James became the oldest player in NBA history to lead all players in a playoff series in total points scored, according to ESPN Research, pouring in 139 in a defensive slugfest between the two teams.
“Literally every single guy was going, ‘baahhhh, baahhhh,'” Lakers coach JJ Redick said, mimicking the goat sounds the team serenaded James with after the game. “I mean, it speaks to his greatness. To me, he’s had the greatest career of any NBA player.”
Considering James entered this season by picking up the final year on his contract to stay in L.A. with his agent and CEO of Klutch Sports, Rich Paul, issuing a championship directive for his client, it was no small change of tune Friday.
“LeBron wants to compete for a championship,” Paul told ESPN’s Shams Charania in June. “He knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all.”
A four-time champion, James has continued to add to his Hall of Fame résumé in 2025-26 by becoming the first player to play 23 seasons and the all-time leader in games played and field goals made. He sounded like he was valuing the journey this season has taken him on, no matter what the destination might be at the end of these playoffs.
In the past two months, James went from transitioning to third in the pecking order on offense behind Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves and riding that role to a 16-2 mark through March, to Doncic and Reaves getting hurt in the same game April 2 against the Oklahoma City Thunder, which meant he needed to ramp it back up to being the team’s No. 1 option.
“I mean, to be able to experience something [new], it was just totally different for me,” James told ESPN. “In March, it was a totally different role for me. It was super uncomfortable, but comfortable. I had to get into that. But it was also winning. That’s all I care about. But I knew at the same time I could give more. But maybe giving more wasn’t what was a fit for our team. And I accepted that and I was OK with that. Not from a team aspect, I was OK with that. I was able to put my ego to the side for the betterment of the team, understanding that I could do it.”
James, following the plan laid out by Redick that put the ball back in his hands and elevated the offensive roles of Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard while still asking the team to commit defensively, simply helped the team figure it out.
“For us to be written off a few weeks ago and to win a playoff series is a big deal,” Redick said after Friday’s game. “And it’s just speaks to the character of our team and the leaders of our team. They didn’t let go of the rope.”
As James sat at his seat in the visitor’s locker room in the Toyota Center and scanned players such as Jaxson Hayes, Jake LaRavia and his son Bronny James, who were spread out around him, he acknowledged what was gained by the group in beating the Rockets.
“To have moments like this still [is special],” James said. “We got some guys, it’s their first time winning a playoff series. That s— means something to me. Bronny, he played meaningful minutes in a playoff series. So, it’s pretty cool. I can’t even say it’s not. It’s dope.”
L.A. ended Houston’s season with a staunch defense, anchored by Deandre Ayton’s one-on-one coverage against Alperen Sengun, who picked apart L.A. with his passing when he was doubled in Game 5 but was held to just one assist in Game 6. Smart had two steals and two blocks, and Reaves, playing in just his second game back after missing four weeks because of a Grade 2 left oblique strain, had three blocks. The Rockets shot just 35%.
“I took the challenge to my chin,” Ayton said. “Just putting the team on my back and them trusting me. … That’s what really got everything going, to be honest.”
Rui Hachimura poured in 21 points and went 5-for-7 from 3, Reaves scored 15 and the Lakers committed just 11 turnovers, their fewest in the series.
It earned the Lakers a second-round date with the defending champion Thunder and a few days off before Tuesday’s Game 1.
Oklahoma City beat the Lakers by an average of 29.3 points in their 4-0 regular season sweep, making the upcoming Western Conference semifinals the most lopsided matchup in terms of regular season point differential.
“I don’t want to speak too prematurely,” James said when asked about the Thunder series. “Obviously, we’ll get into it once we get into it, probably on Sunday we’ll tap into it.”
