Stephen A. Smith has pushed back on the idea that LeBron James is playing beyond the right point in his career. James is entering his 24th NBA season at age 41 after choosing Philadelphia over retirement. He initially wasn’t sure whether his Lakers finale would be his last game.
Smith now sees James as more than a veteran attraction for the 76ers. He called him a potential key piece in Philadelphia’s championship pursuit. The comments arrive as James prepares for a new team and a different Eastern Conference challenge. His latest season also provides the statistical basis for Smith’s view.
Stephen A. Smith points to LeBron’s production
Smith was asked by VT Gen Z whether James was going too far by playing another season or should have retired. His answer was direct: “No, I don’t think he’s going too far,” while pointing to James averaging 20 points per game in his 23rd season.
James actually averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds in 60 games for Los Angeles during the 2025-26 regular season. He shot 51.5% from the field and made his 22nd consecutive All-Star appearance, but he was ineligible for All-NBA honors because he did not play enough games.
Those numbers came while James was already 41, making the production unusual even by his own standards. His workload was also significant, as he averaged 33.2 minutes per game, giving Philadelphia a player who remained capable of handling a substantial role before the move.
Why Philadelphia changes the conversation
James’ move to Philadelphia gives his 24th season a different context from the final years of his Lakers tenure. He joins Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Jaylen Brown on a roster that was reshaped aggressively during the offseason.
Philadelphia finished 45-37 in 2025-26 and reached the Eastern Conference semifinals. The franchise then added James and Brown, along with other established players, creating a roster with several offensive options around its veteran superstar.
James announced that Philadelphia would be his “last decision” after seriously considering retirement. He also said he believed he could help make the 76ers a championship team, making the competitive purpose behind the move unusually clear for a player entering his 24th season.
The move also creates a new chapter for James after 8 seasons in Los Angeles. Philadelphia will now be the fourth NBA franchise of his career, adding another major stop to a career that has already included championships with 3 different franchises.
The retirement question has already been part of James’ summer
Retirement was not an outside narrative imposed on James alone. After the Lakers lost to Oklahoma City in the 2026 playoffs, James said he did not know whether that game would be the final appearance of his career.
He ultimately decided to continue, informing the Lakers in June that he would play elsewhere for the 2026-27 season. That ended an eight-year Lakers run that included the 2020 championship and another major chapter in his career.
James’ decision to continue playing also sets up a different kind of final season. Rather than ending his career immediately after leaving Los Angeles, he will enter 2026-27 with another opportunity to compete for a championship while determining how much longer he wants to remain on the court.
Fun fact: LeBron James was also an accomplished high school football player, earning first-team All-State honors as a wide receiver during his sophomore year. He finished his football career at St. Vincent-St. Mary with 27 touchdowns and 99 receptions during his high school football career.
What makes Smith’s assessment notable
Smith’s comments are significant because they separate James’ age from his current basketball value. The argument is not that James is still producing at the level of his prime, but that his all-around contribution remains substantial enough to matter on a championship-caliber roster.
His 2025-26 production supports that broader view. James remains one of Philadelphia’s prominent additions at age 41, and his passing remains an important part of his value alongside his scoring and rebounding.
The 76ers also give James a roster built around multiple creators. Maxey averaged 28.3 points per game last season, according to NBA.com, while Brown arrives after earning his second All-NBA selection in Boston, creating a group that can distribute offensive responsibilities rather than relying on James to carry every possession.
LeBron’s next chapter now has a clear purpose
James’ decision has moved the retirement discussion from an immediate question into a longer-term storyline surrounding his final seasons. He considered stopping after 23 years, then chose Philadelphia after deciding he still had something left to give on the court.
Smith’s view reflects the evidence from James’ most recent season. A 20.9-point, 7.2-assist and 6.1-rebound campaign at age 41 does not erase the physical demands of another NBA season, but it does explain why the question is no longer simply whether James can remain productive.
Philadelphia has also made the move about more than extending James’ career. The 76ers are pairing him with Embiid, Maxey and Brown in an attempt to push deeper into the postseason after another Eastern Conference semifinal exit.
James now enters a season in which his role, workload and durability will shape the conversation around his career. For Smith, the starting point is already established: James’ production remains strong enough to make his continued presence on a title-minded roster meaningful.
TL;DR
- Stephen A. Smith said LeBron James is not going too far by playing his 24th NBA season.
- James averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds for the Lakers in 2025-26.
- He joined Philadelphia after seriously considering retirement following the Lakers’ playoff exit.
- The 76ers added James to a core featuring Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Jaylen Brown.
- James signed a 2-year, $8 million deal with Philadelphia and will make his 76ers debut against the Knicks.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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