Even legendary players with decades of success face criticism that never ends. But recently, a respected voice, Robert Horry, pushed back on the outside noise against LeBron James.

Horry, a former Los Angeles Lakers forward and seven-time NBA champion, stood up for James while speaking on Spectrum SportsNet. He addressed the media, analysts, and fans who constantly focus on James' age. 

Horry stated, “It makes me so mad because the people who criticize him aren’t even basketball players. You would never see a basketball [player] say, “Oh, that was a bad play.” — We’ve got to sit back and say thank you for the 20+ years you’ve given us. And like me, I’m saying give us 20 more because it’s just amazing to watch him play each and every night.”

These strong comments came in mid-April 2026 as the Lakers finished their solid regular season, with a 52-29 record, securing the No. 4 seed in the West. With James now 41 years old, the public scrutiny has been louder and more frequent. 

Horry noted that even at his current age, James is still a threat and better than 95% of the league. Horry highlighted the clear difference between actual players who respect the game and outsiders who easily call a legend washed. 

The actual on-court stats contradict the negative narratives surrounding the veteran Lakers star from fans and the media. 

The Numbers Tell the Real Story for LeBron James 

Looking at his season stats, James is still playing at an elite level. He averaged an impressive 21.0 points, 7.2 assists, and 6.1 rebounds per game while shooting 51.7 percent from the field. Those numbers easily place him in the top 15 to 20 players across the entire league. 

With star teammate Luka Dončić dealing with a hamstring strain and Austin Reaves out with an oblique injury, James had to carry the entire team. Over his last three regular-season appearances, he scored 28.0 points, 12.7 assists, and 7.7 rebounds per game to keep up the momentum.

Lakers head coach JJ Redick pointed out how remarkable James' season has been. The coach called playing a full schedule a huge accomplishment and praised James as a big-time leader. 

When asked about wild claims that the team is somehow better without him on the floor, LeBron said they were absolutely wrong. Earlier in the year, he quoted Jay-Z, stating he puts his all into the game mentally and physically, adding, "If you can’t respect that, your whole perspective is whack."

LeBron has given the basketball over 20 years of pure excellence and is still proving his value at age 41.

Do you think LeBron can carry the team for a deep playoff run? 

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Written by

Utsav Sinha

Edited by

Souvik Roy