The Lakers are finally back to their winning ways tonight after 3 straight Ls. They edged out the Indiana Pacers by one point. And LeBron James, despite not being at his best tonight scoring-wise, was still instrumental in the Lakers getting the W. But following the game, James revealed how he manages to help his team even though he isn’t at 100% after returning from injury.

Exactly. A 13-point game might look rough on paper, especially for someone like LeBron, but let’s not pretend that’s the whole story. The man just came back from a two-week layoff—it takes time to shake off that rust.

But here’s what makes LeBron, LeBron—he never just disappears when his shot isn’t falling. Instead, he adjusts and finds ways to impact the game, whether it’s playmaking, defense, or leadership on the floor. This wasn’t about stuffing the stat sheet; it was about getting back into rhythm and still making a difference for his squad.

He spoke to the media about this post-game, sending a clear message to his teammates about trying, even when you’re not at your best. LeBron said, “You know, [I] never get too high, never get too low and I know that, you know, I said it in and shoot around this morning, you were there and I said after the two weeks it’s going to take a little bit to get my rhythm back offensively, get my wind back, get my cardio back but one thing about my game I can always do other things on the floor to help our team win even when I’m not shooting the ball well.”

Surprised by this revelation? We’re guessing not. At this point, we’re used to LeBron’s elite basketball IQ and pragmatism. He’s always doing what’s best for the team. Even if he isn’t playing well, LeBron simply finds a way.

LeBron isn’t just defying age—he’s rewriting what longevity looks like in the NBA. Year 22, 40 years old, and still outperforming guys half his age? That’s unheard of.

His dedication to body maintenance is legendary—hyperbaric chambers, cryotherapy, strict diet, you name it, he does it. But even with all that, time remains undefeated. That’s why he’s so calculated about his recovery. With the Playoffs looming, every decision matters. Pushing too hard, too soon? Risky. But getting back into rhythm just in time for a deep run? That’s the LeBron way.

But the confession about his injury is still a little worrying. The Lakers will need LeBron to be ready if they are to find any postseason success. And LeBron underperforming may end up demoralizing a Lakers team that seems to look up to the King.

But tonight’s was crucial in keeping the Lakers’ morale up with the postseason on the horizon. LeBron also spoke about the importance of tonight’s win while acknowledging that there’s still more work to be done. Here’s what he said.

LeBron James talks about the challenges of winning in the “Wild Wild West”

Tonight’s victory for the Lakers was the very definition of a hard-fought victory. If the close scoreline isn’t enough to make that clear, perhaps LeBron’s game winner with literal microseconds left on the clock should do it. But according to James, that’s just how things go in this tough Western Conference.

When asked about the importance of tonight’s win in helping their standings, LeBron had this to say. “No, it’s huge. We understand how gruesome the Wild Wild West is when it comes to the standings and, you know, to get a win like that was huge,” said LeBron.

But he knows that the Lakers aren’t off the hook yet. LeBron added, “We know we got another one tomorrow. Chicago team has been red hot as well, beat us pretty bad last week so you know, we got to get some rest because there’s another team that’s going to get up and down on the floor, so we got to defend like we did tonight.” 

The Lakers needed this win, and LeBron knows it. Snapping that losing streak was crucial, especially with the Playoffs creeping up. Now, the real test? Bouncing back against the Bulls. That 31-point loss stung, and you can bet they haven’t forgotten it.

With LeBron still shaking off the rust from his injury, this next game could be the perfect “I’m back” moment for him. If he finds his rhythm, things could get scary for the rest of the league real quick.