The Los Angeles Lakers are doing all they can to make one more title run before superstar forward LeBron James decides to hang it up and walk away from the game. James isn’t the same player he was in his prime, but thanks to the Lakers surrounding him with stars such as Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, Los Angeles has a serious chance to make some noise this postseason.
And although this isn’t his prime, James is still one of the best players in the game in his 23rd year in the association. James has been so impressive over his career, in fact, that the league is bending the rules so that the legend can commerate what’s been an incredible career.
The league has a strict policy on teams’ and players’ altering their jerseys, but James will wear a one of kind patch for the remainder of the season, which just may be his last.
“BREAKING: LeBron James will wear a special-edition patch on his jersey to celebrate his record-setting 23rd NBA season, beginning tonight in Sacramento, the city where he made his NBA debut in 2003.
“The patch, which LeBron will wear for the remainder of the season, features a silhouette of his pregame chalk toss and three colored stripes representing the franchises he’s played for in Cleveland, Miami, and L.A,” reported Yahoo Sports on Monday.
> BREAKING: LeBron James will wear a special-edition patch on his jersey to celebrate his record-setting 23rd NBA season, beginning tonight in Sacramento, the city where he made his NBA debut in 2003.
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> The patch, which LeBron will wear for the remainder of the season, features a… [pic.twitter.com/iKgUFh1Fcg](https://t.co/iKgUFh1Fcg)
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> — Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) [January 12, 2026](https://twitter.com/YahooSports/status/2010740902193410331?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
Fans had mixed reactions to the news on social media.
“Couldn’t imagine a more selfless athlete. How he’s never had it be about him is a testament to his astonishing humility,” one fan wrote sarcastically on Twitter.
“Full circle. Same chalk toss, three cities, two decades, zero expiration date. History isn’t retiring, it’s suiting up again,” another fan added.
“I’m not trying to be a hater I swear to god I just………… why?” one person wanted to know.
It’ll be interesting to see just what the Lakers and James can do this season in the playoffs.