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Los Angeles Lakers
Sep 8, 2025 2:16 PM EDT
The 2025-26 NBA season is right around the corner, and a very familiar face is set to start yet another season. Ever since being drafted first overall in the 2003 NBA draft, LeBron James has been getting ready for another season.
The Lakers star has played 22 seasons, won four NBA titles, is a four-time MVP, and helped his teams win four NBA titles. He has also been part of three Olympic Gold medals, including the “Redeem Team”, which was viewed as a pivotal moment in U.S. basketball history, restoring dominance after the bronze medal in Athens in 2024.
James has never had a season where he played less than 55 games in a single season. In his last two seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, he played 71 and 70 games, respectively.
Not only will James go down as one of the best players to ever play the game of basketball, but he is also already a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He and Chris Paul are the only two active players to be inducted.
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) smiles after his team scored against the Sacramento Kings. — Source: Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images
Redeem Team Dominated the Opponents
The 2008 group featured James, along with Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, and Jason Kidd at the forefront of the roster. Head coach Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils led the way with Jim Boeheim, Nate McMillan, and Mike D’Antoni as his assistants.
The late Bryant had plenty of talk around him, including high praise from James about his presence on the squad.
“He was the missing link we needed in order to regain dominance with Team USA,” James said of Bryant.
After going 5-0 in group play, Team USA went into the tournament with a 31-point win over Australia. Then, in the semifinals matchup against Argentina, the Americans scored 101 points and beat Argentina by 20 points. That set the stage for the title game, where the USA recorded 118 points and beat Spain by 11.
Just recently, the entire roster was inducted into the Hall of Fame, with two of its members, Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard, also being inducted as players at that time.
United States guard Lebron James (6) with a fist pump during the 2008 Olympics. — Source: © Bob Donnan
LeBron James Posts the Announcement
With the recent news, James saw a barrage of congratulations following his post showing off his jacket. He posted it with the following caption:
“We In The Hall Baby!!!!! Ayyyyyyeeeew 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾👑.”
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Fans were all over the announcement, and they all had something in common: congratulations and admiration for his career.
“Easiest call ever made. Well deserved 👑🔥🔥🔥🔥”
“Mama, there go that man again.. LeGoat”
“Hall of Fame while u still playing is INSANE 👑.”
“LeGreatest 👑”
“Goat debate over.”
“Congrats! Only one of two players to still be playing in the NBA and in the Hall of Fame 👑”
United States guard Lebron James (6) celebrates during the 2008 Olympics — Source: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
LeBron James Will be No Stranger to the Hall of Fame
This certainly will not be the final time he is inducted into the Hall of Fame. The oldest active player in the NBA, and the player with the most seasons played and most minutes in league history, continues his greatness. There will be another induction when his incredible career finally comes to an end
Last season, James scored 24.4 points per game in his seventh season with the Lakers. Before that, James spent time with the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Miami Heat, and then another round with the Cavaliers.
The 2025-26 season will be his second full season, starting with his son, Bronny, and the first with fellow All-Star Luka Doncic. James and his Lakers teammates will start on Oct. 21 against Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors. Los Angeles will then take on the Minnesota Timberwolves on Oct. 24 in a rematch of the first-round playoff series, where the Lakers were eliminated in five games.
The basketball world got a big boost from the Redeem Team, and it’s nice for James to get his flowers as part of this team, as without this group, basketball in the United States seemed to potentially be sliding down a slippery slope.
About the Author
Rodney Knuppel
Trending News Writer, Athlon Sports
Rodney Knuppel is a contributing writer to the Athlon Sports trending and breaking news team.