E Da Old Tymer

Today, the sports media world is buzzing with excitement. Every major news outlet is focused on one topic: LeBron James has been upgraded to questionable and might make his season debut tonight as the Lakers take on the visiting Utah Jazz at Crypto.com Arena in Downtown Los Angeles. Words like “historic” are being thrown around to describe the 40-year-old’s 23rd season.

And yet, I don’t quite share in this sentiment.

Let me clarify—I’m not part of the LeBron hate club. In fact, I respect the man. Competing at the NBA level at his age is nothing short of remarkable. However, I can’t help but feel a bit skeptical about the return of the “forever” king to the Lakers’ lineup. So, where do I start?

First, there’s the issue of team chemistry. Right now, this is Luka Doncic’s team, and it shows in the Lakers’ current play. They heavily rely on the scoring prowess of Doncic and the newly-emerged second option, Austin Reaves. This duo has the potential to be mentioned alongside other great backcourt tandems. The team’s defense, while not stellar, is competitive and improving. The real question is whether a player of James’ caliber would be willing to take on a role as a third or even fourth option to allow the Doncic-Reaves duo to thrive, and to ensure players like Marcus Smart, a defensive game-changer, and DeAndre Ayton, who is showing promising offensive and defensive skills, get the minutes they deserve. It all hinges on LeBron’s willingness to prioritize the team’s success.

Then, there’s the obvious concern: age. LeBron will be 41 by the end of this year, and while he’s done an incredible job of keeping Father Time at bay, it’s only a matter of time before his body starts to show more signs of aging. Anyone who’s played organized basketball can see it in his game—the mis-dribbles, errant passes, lack of defensive engagement, and those moments when his body just can’t keep up with the ball, leading to turnovers. These are telltale signs of a player nearing the end of their career.

Perhaps the most significant issue is whether James will be more of a distraction than a benefit. In my view, unfortunately, he might be. LeBron has a history of being a distraction, whether it’s making bold statements on his podcast, clashing with personalities in the locker room, or lacking accountability when things go south. These are the very issues that, in my opinion, exclude him from legitimate greatest-of-all-time conversations. True greatness is recognized by others, not self-proclaimed.

With or without James, let’s hope the Lakers secure another win tonight!