By Chalien Dantes

LeBron James remains adamant that back-to-back games might be a thing of the past. 

Speaking to reporters after leading the Lakers to a 111-103 win over the New Orleans Pelicans with 30 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists, LeBron didn’t hide the toll that 23 seasons in the NBA have taken on his body. 

When asked about suiting up again for a quick turnaround against the San Antonio Spurs, he answered by saying every back-to-back for the rest of the season is “to be determined”. At 41, LeBron isn’t shy about reminding everyone that he holds the record for the most minutes played in NBA history, passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 2024 and now sitting with over 70,000 career minutes.

Despite the numbers, LeBron’s energy on the court against the Pelicans suggested he hasn’t lost his spark. When reporters noted that he didn’t look his age, he responded with the kind of humour only he could pull off, reciting his birth certificate details down to the minute and joking about how he arrived in the world ready to make an impression.

LeBron hasn’t confirmed whether this season will be his last, but his openness about the physical strain he’s feeling at 41 hints that the end of an era might be approaching. Even as he continues to pile up points, rebounds, and assists, it’s becoming very clear that the relentless grind of the NBA is no longer something he can take for granted, and he may be considering when to retire.