Who’s banking on Lebron?

There are two games in the NBA opening day schedule this morning (Manila time) and the league’s oldest player will be in action for the Los Angeles Lakers against the defending champion Denver Nuggets in one of the contests. LeBron James, 38, was once the youngest NBA player but that was 20 seasons ago. Now, The Chosen One’s the senior statesman and looking to become the first player to score 40,000 career points, a feat that will be accomplished about 50 games into the season if he averages 28 points a game. The other game pits Golden State against Phoenix.

James isn’t as concerned about his individual achievements as the championship rings in his collection. He’s earned four so far, two with Miami and one each with Cleveland and the Lakers. Team loyalty isn’t a priority for James. He’ll go to where he can win a ring, no matter if in the East or West. Before James hangs up his sneakers, he’d like a fifth ring to fit every finger in his hand. But at his age and the Lakers’ astronomical top-heavy payroll (James and Anthony Davis earn $88.2 million together), it’ll be a hard road back to the top.

Lakers coach Darvin Ham did a creditable job last season until LA ran into Denver in the Western Conference Finals. The Nuggets swept the Lakers and made fans quickly forget how badly LA eliminated Golden State in the previous round. Ham is hanging around until James calls for a replacement. In the offseason, the Lakers retooled by letting go of FIBA World Cup sensation Dennis Schroder and bringing in 7-foot Jaxson Hayes from New Orleans, 6-10 Christian Wood from Houston, 6-7 Taurean Prince from Minnesota and 6-3 Gabe Vincent from Miami. Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura and D’Angelo Russell are back but they’re at best complementary players. It doesn’t look like the Lakers did enough to rearm against Denver.

James has a player option for next season at $51.4 million and he’ll likely take it because the money’s too good. But he’ll be 40 when the 2024-25 season ends and if the championship well will have dried up, it may be time to step down not as a King but as a legend with enough legacy to honor his name forever.

Will the Nuggets repeat? Maybe not. Oddsmakers are installing