LeBron James is defying the odds on the basketball court. Yet, his current playoff run has started a new debate. Former teammate Danny Green just made a claim that changes the perspective on LeBron James’ game vs. the Rockets.

The Los Angeles Lakers are facing the Houston Rockets in the first round. Most people favor the Rockets to win easily. Green shared his thoughts on the No Fouls Given podcast. This happened right before Game 1 on April 17, 2026. He believes this upcoming series could redefine LeBron's legacy. 

Green said, "If he can lead this team by himself at 41 years old to beat the Houston Rockets out of the first round, this is up there with that accomplishment. It’s right behind it. That’s a wild achievement, they supposed to be swept this round…."

Green continued to compare this to past runs. He added, "So if he does something that’s impossible at forty fu*king one years old, that’s an achievement that is up there. What other impossible things has he done? Besides the 3-1 thing that we didn’t think would happen? What else is he? He’s won in Miami when we thought he was supposed to win. He’s won in LA. We were supposed to win."

Green is referring to the 2016 NBA Finals. That year, LeBron brought the Cleveland Cavaliers back from a 3-1 deficit against a record-breaking 73-win Golden State Warriors team. This had never been done in the Finals before. Green thinks a 2026 series win would rank right behind that legendary moment.

The Lakers finished as the 4th seed but are missing their top scorers. LeBron has to do this all by himself against the hot favorites. The odds are against the Lakers, but this matchup carries a heavy burden for a veteran star.

The Heavy Weight of the First Round

Both Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are out with injuries: Doncic is nursing a Grade 2 hamstring strain, while Reaves is dealing with a Grade 2 oblique strain. They will miss the entire first round. This leaves LeBron as the only main offensive leader for the team. 

Head coach JJ Redick recently said it will be an "all hands on deck" situation. Redick noted that LeBron will carry a huge burden in creating shots, scoring, and passing. However, the coach also wants to balance the offense. 

In a recent three-game stretch without the star players, LeBron averaged 28.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 12.3 assists. He shot almost 60 % from the field during that run. 

The series kicks off with Game 1 on Saturday, April 18, and the stage is set for one of the toughest battles of LeBron's career. Can a 41-year-old star carry the Lakers for an impressive playoff run? 

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Written by

Utsav Sinha