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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 03: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers on court against the New Orleans Pelicans in the first half at Crypto.com Arena on March 03, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Lakers are looking to win one final title with LeBron James. Earlier in his career, James was making deep runs in the playoffs almost every year. He made the NBA Finals eight times in a row, which is a crazy streak.
James has won one single title in Los Angeles. This year is widely viewed as his last season to do so, as his future with the Lakers is unsettled after the year. James has struggled to repeat the same postseason success he saw for the majority of his career in the Eastern Conference.
Recently, James revealed an interesting approach to the playoffs that he used to employ.
GettyLos Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James passes the ball. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Lakers’ LeBron James Says He Used to Turn Off His Phone During Playoff Runs
While speaking on the Mind the Game Podcast, James revealed that he used to turn his phone off during the entirety of the playoffs. That meant loved ones couldn’t contact him.
“Who’s going to hold me more accountable than myself, as I continue to mention? So, just through a whole playoff run, I would just turn my phone off completely. If my loved ones wanted to get in contact with me, Randy was with me every day. Maverick would be around, you know, a lot of the time.”
James made sure that people knew his loved ones would still find a way to get ahold of him.
“If they want to get in contact with me, they can call them and if it was an emergency, they will come. If we was on the road they come knock on my door. Other than that, nobody could get in contact with me for two-and-a-half straight months.”
James went on to say that it wasn’t even about getting away from the negativity. He just didn’t want to be distracted. He doesn’t do this anymore, but it was how he coped with the magnitude of the playoffs as a younger player.
GettyLos Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James shoots the ball. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Lakers Need LeBron James to Turn Back the Clock
If the Lakers are going to have any shot of winning a title this season, James needs to turn back the clock. Right now, LA has the ninth-worst defense in the league. Improving that defense has to be the way for this team to turn into a title contender.
James, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reaves have all had different levels of playoff success. James has won multiple titles. Doncic has made the Finals once. Reaves hasn’t won a conference title. Yet, those three have to find a level of chemistry that they have struggled to find over the last few months.
Los Angeles has about six weeks to figure out how to build that chemistry. James is one of the greatest players in the history of the NBA, so he still believes he can figure this out.