The ageless tenure of LeBron James reached another peak on Thursday night, as the Lakers star returned to action after missing three games with nagging hip, foot, and elbow issues.
Despite his age and recent injuries, James looked vintage in a 142-130 victory over the Chicago Bulls at Crypto.com Arena.
The highlight of the night came in the third quarter when James sliced through the Bulls’ defense for a powerful driving dunk that sent the Lakers’ bench into a frenzy.
Cameras quickly panned to Bronny James, who was recently recalled from the G League for backcourt depth, holding up four and one fingers to signal his father’s age of 41, a gesture that immediately went viral on social media.
James finished with a balanced stat line of 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists in 33 minutes. The win marks the fourth straight for the Lakers, moving them to a 41-25 record and third place in a highly competitive Western Conference.
Rewriting the record books
The 2025/26 season has been defined by James‘ continued assault on the NBA’s most sacred milestones. Just one week prior to the Bulls game, James surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most field goals made in NBA history.
He broke the long-standing record of 15,837 makes with a signature fadeaway jumper in the first quarter of a game against the Denver Nuggets.
Now in his 23rd season, James holds the all-time records for points, minutes played, and made field goals, further distancing himself from any historical peer in terms of longevity and sustained production.
James‘ return is a crucial development for a Lakers team that has integrated younger pieces like Deandre Ayton, who recorded his 20th double-double of the season against Chicago with 23 points and 10 rebounds.
With only a few weeks remaining in the regular season, the focus in Los Angeles has shifted from mere survival to title contention, especially as James appears to have managed his physical setbacks effectively.
While his bench energy has become a staple of Lakers’ broadcasts, Bronny James has quietly established himself as a legitimate prospect through his play with the South Bay Lakers.
The 21-year-old guard did not see action in the win over the Bulls but came into the night fresh off a standout performance against the Santa Cruz Warriors earlier in the week.
