Source Close to LeBron Raises Rare Concern About Lakers Star’s Long-Term Durability

The Los Angeles Lakers continue to ride strong momentum, improving to 11-4 after their recent victory over the Utah Jazz. But even with the team performing well and enjoying a rare extended break before their next matchup, one storyline is quietly taking center stage: LeBron James’ durability at age 40.

James made his long-awaited season debut on Tuesday, returning from a sciatica issue that sidelined him for the first 14 games of the season. In his first appearance, he delivered 11 points and 12 assists in 30 minutes, showing a mix of rust and creativity as he settled back into game rhythm.

A surprising concern from inside LeBron’s circle

On Friday, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin revealed that someone close to James expressed an unusually candid concern — something rarely voiced about the NBA’s all-time scoring leader.

The source questioned whether James can maintain elite physical form across the long season, even with his legendary commitment to conditioning. McMenamin noted that while James’ work ethic is unquestioned, time remains undefeated, and the strain of 23 NBA seasons continues to accumulate.

Longevity meets reality

James has defied age longer than almost any athlete in basketball history, building a career defined by durability and meticulous body care. His ability to remain productive into his 40s is unprecedented — but returning from a nerve-related injury underscores a new reality:

Even for James, recovery takes longer, risks are higher, and the margin for error continues to shrink.

Extra rest arrives at the right moment

The Lakers now enjoy four full off-days before their rematch with the Jazz on Sunday, a gift of scheduling that could significantly benefit James and other banged-up roster members, including Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves.

The team hopes that the extended downtime will help James build toward peak form while reducing the chance of lingering nerve discomfort.

Kobe Bryant once envisioned the perfect pairing

The conversation comes amid a resurfaced quote from Kobe Bryant

, who once said that James was the player who would have complemented him best:

“He’s a passer first, I’m a scorer. ‘Bron is a facilitator by nature and I’m a finisher. Those two styles complement each other extremely well.”

While fans continue to dream about what such a pairing might have looked like, James now faces a different challenge: extending his championship-level performance into his 40s.

The Lakers’ season may depend on whether he can do it — and for the first time, even those closest to him are acknowledging the battle ahead.