After missing the first 14 games with a sciatica problem, LeBron James returned Tuesday night and reminded the world why calling him a sports miracle is not some exaggeration.
At 40 years old, in his 23rd NBA season, he is still running games, throwing perfect passes, and making teammates better. Deandre Ayton shared a story that perfectly captures LeBron’s enduring greatness.
LeBron James' impact goes beyond stats for the Lakers
During the Lakers’ 140–126 win over the Utah Jazz, LeBron set up Ayton with a lob that the big man slammed home. It was a clean, textbook play, but Ayton later revealed that it was actually a special moment. You see, that was not their first alley-oop connection.
“That’s actually the second alley-oop you’ve ever thrown me,” he said. “The first one was when I was in eighth grade at your camp.”
“I was telling him a fun fact: He threw me an alley-oop and I told him, ‘That’s my second alley-oop from you. The first one was when I was in eighth grade at your camp.’” Deandre Ayton on playing his first game with LeBron James on the Lakers. pic.twitter.com/qZ3kmgN0OT
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) November 19, 2025
Think about that for a second. A youth camp. A teenager catching a lob from one of the greatest players of all time.
Over a decade later, the same player throws the same type of pass, and now that kid, Ayton, is his teammate in the NBA. It is a moment that almost defies belief, a snapshot of a career that stretches across generations.
Ayton has been playing at a career-high level this season, proving he deserves the nickname “DominAyton” for good reason. Through 14 games, he has been averaging 16.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, and a staggering 69.9 percent from the field, the best mark of his career.
The Lakers, up to this point, have been doing a great job of setting him up in pick-and-rolls and lobs. He has looked engaged and consistent, and could be a major reason why the Lakers take that next step this coming postseason.
The fun story with the eighth-grade camp shows that LeBron’s impact goes beyond stats. He can connect the past and present in a way few athletes ever do.
LeBron’s 23rd NBA season debut, the most by any player in the history of the sport, was clearly one to remember. He finished with 11 points and orchestrated the offense with 12 assists.
Seeing a 40-year-old still run a team at that level, create easy baskets for teammates, and remain physically capable of throwing lobs like a man in his prime, reminds everyone why he is a once-in-a-generation athlete.
LeBron is more than a Hall of Famer. He is a living link between eras and a player whose career longevity is unmatched. When Ayton dunked off that lob and recalled a throw from years ago, it was not just a fun anecdote; it was proof.
If Lakers fans learned anything from James’ debut, it is that, even at 40, he will continue to shape the game, make history, and perform at a level that seems almost impossible. That is why he is, without question, a sports miracle.