Perhaps no player in NBA history has better embodied the word longevity than Los Angeles Lakers star forward LeBron James. He’s one of only two players in the history of the league along with Vince Carter to have suited up in 22 seasons. James entered the league as a teenager and he’s now the NBA’s oldest player at 40 years old.
The fact that James is still in the league at his advanced age is impressive enough on its own, but he also remains one of the premier basketball players in the world. James’ commitment to keeping himself in peak physical condition has allowed him to sustain his greatness after playing for so many years, and the Lakers are reportedly hoping that James will be an example to Doncic on the “physical commitment” needed to be great in the league.
“The Lakers are hopeful that James can not only pair with Doncic in the short term, but can also provide an example to the young star when it comes to the type of physical commitment it takes to sustain availability and greatness,” Dan Woike wrote.
Former Lakers guard and 2020 NBA champion Rajon Rondo spoke incredibly highly of James’ work ethic in November of last year. The four-time All-Star and three-time assists champion claimed that he has never seen anyone take care of his body like James.
Doncic seemingly could benefit from learning a thing or two from James about how to avoid conditioning issues in the future. His allegedly saw his weight increase to nearly 270 pounds this season, and according to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, Mavericks sources believed that Doncic’s conditioning woes played a factor in his injury issues in his final season with the team.
Doncic suited up in only 22 games with the Mavericks in the 2024-25 regular season before he was traded to the storied Lakers franchise on Sunday. He hasn’t played since Dec. 25 due to a calf injury, but it’s worth noting that NBA insider Marc Stein reported that Doncic was targeting a return to the court on Feb. 8 prior to changing teams, and the Lakers have a contest against the Indiana Pacers scheduled for that day.
If James can rub off his modus operandi regarding conditioning on Doncic, the Lakers could be in that much of a better position to contend for titles after the 40-year-old retires from the NBA and leaves the storied franchise.