After securing their fourth consecutive win, the Los Angeles Lakers moved up to the third seed in the Western Conference. In their recent home matchup against the Chicago Bulls at the Crypto.com Arena, JJ Redick 's team delivered an impressive performance, highlighted by Luka Doncic dropping 50 points and finishing just one assist shy of a triple-double.
Thursday night also saw LeBron James return to the hardwood after missing three games due to injury. The 41-year-old superstar got off to a slow start, scoring just three points on five attempts by halftime. He quickly found his rhythm in the third quarter, hitting all five of his field-goal attempts and finishing the game with 18 points. Even so, he made sure not to overshadow Doncic, who was chasing his first 50-point performance in a Lakers jersey.
James' sacrifice didn't go unnoticed, with Lakers greats like Derek Fisher and James Worthy giving him his flowers.
"The one person that has scored the most points in the history of NBA basketball literally tried not to score a point in the first quarter … It's all about the team. He did what he needed to do tonight to make sure the team got a win," Fisher said .
"He played in a role like a role player. Here's arguably the best player in the game willing to do that. I think it's an amazing approach that he took tonight, " said Worthy, who played his entire 12-season career with the Lakers.
James understands when to take a backseat, especially with Doncic and Austin Reaves by his side. At the same time, his ability to adapt to any situation makes him one of the greats.
"He wants to do everything possible to help this team win. He understands the importance of making sure Luka and AR can be at their best … It speaks a lot to how much he cares about this team and his teammates and how much he wants to win," Redick said .
That said, there is no denying that James continues to play winning basketball. The so-called analysts and critics pushing the narrative that the Lakers are better without him are forgetting how important he becomes come playoff time, especially in a stacked Western Conference.
James certainly has nothing left to prove 23 years into his NBA career. The veteran forward has earned almost every accolade in the book and understands that it's ultimately about winning​.
"The team is most important ... It is some sacrifice. I know what I'm capable of still doing as an individual, but I'm able to adapt to what's important for this team, and that's the only thing that matters," said James, addressing the media post-game.
Nevertheless, his future with the Lakers depends on how the playoffs turn out. James has a player option for the 2026-27 season, with many predicting this will be his final chapter with the Purple and Gold, and that his farewell season will be with the Cleveland Cavaliers .
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Mar 14, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
