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LeBron James receives praise from Stephen A. Smith
The Los Angeles Lakers opened their first-round playoff series with a 107-98 win over the Houston Rockets on Saturday, and once again, LeBron James was at the center of the result. With Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves still sidelined, the Lakers relied heavily on their 41-year-old star to control the game in multiple areas.
James delivered 19 points, 13 assists, and eight rebounds while helping Los Angeles take a 1-0 series lead. His passing, tempo control, and late-game shot-making stood out as the Lakers handled a short-handed Houston team missing Kevin Durant.
After the performance, ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith offered major praise for James, focusing on the level he continues to maintain deep into his 23rd NBA season.
GettyStephen A. Smith
Smith said James has reached a level of sustained greatness unmatched in sports history.
“Continuing to amaze, showing that he’s the goat of longevity because no player, no athlete in the history has been this good for this long,” Smith said.
He continued by asking whether any athlete compares to James at this stage of his career.
“Is there an athlete that has been this good for this long in history? I don’t know who it is,” Smith said. “At age 41 in his 23rd season, has there ever, ever, ever been anybody this good for this long? The answer to that is no. Not that I know of.”
Stephen A. Smith says there’s never been a athlete in history be this good for this long like LeBron James:
“Can we answer that question? Is there an athlete that has been this good for this long in history? I don’t know who it is. Maybe somebody gonna give me Sugar Ray
Smith also clarified that he still considers Michael Jordan his overall basketball GOAT, but separated that debate from James’ longevity.
“Michael Jordan is still my goat because Michael Jordan at his best, I’d take any day against LeBron at his best,” Smith said. “But that doesn’t mean that LeBron isn’t great.”
The comments came after another reminder of James’ durability and consistency. In a league built around younger stars, James remains a primary playoff engine for one of the NBA’s biggest franchises.
With the Lakers missing two of their top scorers, his ability to still lead winning basketball has become even more important.
GettyLos Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James
James’ stat line only tells part of the story. He dictated the offense early and created scoring chances throughout the night.
In the first half alone, James posted 10 assists without a turnover. According to Real App, he became the oldest player in NBA playoff history to record 10 or more assists in a half with zero turnovers.
That milestone added to a long list of postseason records in a career already filled with them.
James finished Game 1 with the best on-court impact among either team’s starters, helping stabilize lineups around Luke Kennard, Deandre Ayton, Rui Hachimura, and Marcus Smart.
Kennard scored a playoff career-high 27 points, while Ayton added 19 points and 11 rebounds. But James remained the organizer of everything Los Angeles did offensively.
He also made key plays late, including a deep three-pointer and a contested fadeaway over Amen Thompson in the fourth quarter.
During the regular season, James averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists in 60 appearances. Those numbers already reflected elite production for a player in his 23rd season.
Now he has carried that level into the playoffs.
Game 2 shifts focus to whether the Lakers can take a 2-0 lead before the series moves to Houston. Los Angeles also continues monitoring the recovery of Doncic and Reaves.
Until then, James remains the Lakers’ central force. And after Saturday’s performance, Smith’s comments captured the broader reaction around the league: even at 41, James continues to perform at a level few players ever reach, let alone sustain.
Debayan Biswas is a sports writer covering the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com. He focuses on breaking news, trades, and player stories. His work has been featured by Athlon Sports and Pro Football and Sports Network, with republication across platforms including Yahoo Sports and Yardbarker. More about Debayan Biswas
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