One playoff series may have changed NBA history after Rich Paul revealed LeBron James was close to ending his career before the Lakers' first-round victory over the Houston Rockets.
The Los Angeles Lakers' first-round playoff victory over the Houston Rockets may have accomplished more than advancing the franchise to the Western Conference semifinals.
According to LeBron James' longtime agent, Rich Paul, defeating Houston played a major role in convincing the future Hall of Famer to continue playing instead of retiring after the 2025-26 season.
Speaking on the "Game Over" podcast, Paul said James was seriously considering walking away from basketball if the Lakers had suffered an early postseason exit.
"That series, in my opinion, convinced him to keep playing," Paul said. "I truly believe that. I think if they somehow got swept or lost 4-1 in that series, it could be different. I think that gave us another ride."
Instead of ending his career last spring, James returned for another season before ultimately signing with the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency.
Rockets Series Changed Everything
The Lakers entered the playoffs with plenty of questions after an up-and-down regular season. Houston's young, athletic roster presented a difficult matchup, but Los Angeles responded by winning the series in six games to advance.
James remained one of the team's leaders throughout the postseason despite being 41 years old.
During the 2026 playoffs, he averaged 23.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 7.3 assists while shooting 45.9% from the field across 10 games.
His production helped L.A. eliminate Houston in six games before the team's season came to an abrupt end in the Western Conference semifinals, where the Oklahoma City Thunder completed a four-game sweep.
Although the Lakers fell short of another championship, the victory over the Rockets apparently gave James enough confidence to believe he still had more basketball left.
Apr 30, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) controls the ball against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the first half in game five of first round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn ImagesPaul's comments suggest the emotional impact of that series extended far beyond simply advancing in the playoffs.
A Different Ending to an Historic Lakers Career
Had the Lakers lost convincingly in the first round, James' legendary career might have ended wearing purple and gold.
Instead, the playoff success gave him one more opportunity to chase another championship, even if it eventually came with another franchise.
James finished his Lakers tenure as one of the greatest players in franchise history.
Across eight seasons in Los Angeles, he averaged 25.9 points, 7.7 rebounds and 7.9 assists while helping deliver the organization's 17th NBA championship in 2020. He also added an NBA In-Season Tournament title in 2023 while earning six All-Star selections and multiple All-NBA honors during his time in L.A.
His final postseason with the Lakers showed he could still impact winning basketball despite entering his 24th NBA season. While age had reduced some of his explosiveness, his playmaking, basketball IQ and leadership remained among the league's best.
Looking back, the Lakers' six-game victory over Houston may ultimately be remembered for more than simply extending a playoff run. It may have prevented one of the greatest careers in NBA history from ending months earlier than anyone realized, allowing James to write one final chapter before beginning a new journey with the 76ers.
