LeBron James\u2019 face has again contorted into the ultra-serious, tight-eyed, clenched-jaw expression\u00a0we\u2019ve seen so many times over the last two decades.<\/p>\n
He has become Playoff Bron<\/a>. The mercenary on the court<\/a>. The unstoppable freight train. \u00a0<\/p>\n He has morphed into the superhero caricature who has taken 10 teams to the NBA Finals, winning four championships. <\/p>\n LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Houston Rockets during Round One Game One of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 18, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Adam Pantozzi\/NBAE via Getty Images) NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n That\u2019s not the look of a man whose mind is wandering. That\u2019s not the look of a man who\u2019s about to retire. That\u2019s not the look of a man who wants out. <\/p>\n He\u2019s not going anywhere<\/a>.<\/p>\n James has said all season he\u2019s not sure about his future. But his body language is screaming something else. <\/p>\n So is his play.<\/p>\n After losing the team\u2019s top two scorers in Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique), he averaged 24 points (56.3% shooting from the field, 50% from beyond the 3-point line) and 9.7 assists in the team\u2019s next three games.\u00a0<\/p>\n Then, in Game 1 of the Lakers\u2019 first-round playoff series against the Rockets, he finished with 19 points (60% shooting from the field, 50% from beyond the arc), eight rebounds, 13 assists, two steals and one blocked shot in the Lakers\u2019 107-98 win. <\/p>\n Those numbers are staggering.\u00a0<\/p>\n He has poured all of his 23 years of experience into being the conductor of the Lakers\u2019 offense, making a bunch of role players and G Leaguers look organized and brilliant. And he\u2019s doing it at age 41. <\/p>\n There\u2019s no way he\u2019s leaving now. <\/p>\n He\u2019s too good. He\u2019s having too much fun. <\/p>\n And he\u2019s making his detractors look too dumb.<\/p>\n Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James gestures after scoring during the second half in Game 1 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series against the Houston Rockets, Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Los Angeles. AP<\/p>\n Back in late January, after the Lakers lost to the Cavaliers, James had one of his most revealing interviews of the season. <\/p>\n He opened up about his thought process, saying he wants to see \u201chow much juice I can squeeze out of this orange.\u201d He added, \u201cI\u2019m in a battle with Father Time, and I\u2019m taking it personal. And I\u2019m [going to] see how many more times I could be victorious over him.\u201d<\/p>\n The war is still raging. And James is still dominating. <\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tSign up for the California Morning Report newsletter\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCalifornia’s top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n Heck, as you read in this column before, if James leads the depleted Lakers past the Rockets at this stage in his career, that will be his greatest accomplishment<\/a>. Arguably the greatest player of all-time could be on the verge of his most spectacular feat.<\/p>\n He\u2019s not ready to fade away from our consciousnesses. He\u2019s not ready to cede the spotlight. He\u2019s still front and center. <\/p>\n James has always said he\u2019s going to keep playing so long as there\u2019s gas left in the tank. <\/p>\n It\u2019s overflowing. <\/p>\n He has said he\u2019s going to keep going as long as he\u2019s mentally engaged. Does he seem like someone who\u2019s ready to go to Cancun to you?<\/p>\n LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the Houston Rockets during Round One Game One of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 18, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n James is as locked in as ever. Heck, even NBA commissioner Adam Silver, who\u2019s incredibly careful with his words, didn\u2019t hold back when asked for his thoughts on James\u2019 future. <\/p>\n \u201cI have not talked to him since the (regular) season ended,\u201d Silver said in a recent appearance on \u201cThe Carton Show.\u201d \u201cI have every indication that he plans to keep playing next season.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s obvious to him. It\u2019s obvious to me. It\u2019s obvious to you. <\/p>\n He\u2019s not going anywhere. <\/p>\n Sure, James has expressed that he\u2019s not sure if he wants a retirement tour. <\/p>\n But he\u2019s also the guy who announced he was taking his talents to Miami in an over-the-top television special in 2011. He\u2019s the guy who proclaimed himself the greatest player ever after orchestrating a stunning 3-1 series comeback against the Warriors in the 2016 Finals. <\/p>\n He\u2019s not exactly shy or understated. <\/p>\n And nor should he be. <\/p>\n He deserves to be celebrated. And his fans deserve the opportunity to celebrate him. <\/p>\n He\u2019s not going to quietly sail into the sunset. He\u2019s the sun. When it sets, it\u2019s going to be a once-in-a-generation event. <\/p>\n Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, right, talks to his son guard Bronny James during the first half in Game 1 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series against the Houston Rockets, Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Los Angeles. AP<\/p>\n James may have had a foot out the door during the Big 3s early struggles this season. He may have wondered why he was still doing this after an ESPN story<\/a> came out in January alleging that Lakers governor Jeanie Buss<\/a> had a myriad of frustrations with him and even pondered trading him.<\/p>\n But things have turned around. <\/p>\n James fell back in love. It\u2019s obvious. It\u2019s palpable. <\/p>\n He reinvented himself as the team\u2019s third option in March, making the Lakers\u2019 offense soar. He helped lead LA on a 16-2 run. He spent his off days golfing with his teammates. He marveled at playing alongside his son, Bronny<\/a>.<\/p>\n Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James shoots as Houston Rockets forward Tari Eason defends during the second half in Game 1 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Los Angeles. AP<\/p>\n \u201cI mean, s\u2014, I was on the floor with my son in a playoff game,\u201d James said Saturday. \u201cThat\u2019s probably the craziest thing that\u2019s ever happened to me in my career.\u201d<\/p>\n James is still experiencing joy. <\/p>\n And with the way he\u2019s playing, he may make the Lakers loosen their purse strings more than they anticipated during his upcoming free agency. <\/p>\n James, who\u2019s earning $52.6 million this season, will obviously have to take a significant salary cut if he chooses to re-sign with LA. But over the last two months, his value has skyrocketed.<\/p>\n James is back in the driver\u2019s seat. <\/p>\n He\u2019s the team\u2019s No. 1 option. <\/p>\n He\u2019s making the Lakers look good. He\u2019s keeping them alive. And he\u2019s fun as heck to watch. <\/p>\n There\u2019s no way this is goodbye. <\/p>\n Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters <\/p>\n California Post News: Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, X<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, WhatsApp<\/a>, LinkedIn<\/a> \t\t\t\t\t\t
California Post Sports Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, X<\/a>
California Post Opinion<\/a>
California Post Newsletters: Sign up here!<\/a>
California Post App: Download here!<\/a>
Home delivery: Sign up here!<\/a>
<\/a>Page Six Hollywood: Sign up here!<\/a><\/p>\n