LeBron James Drops Epic Quote About Father Time After Lakers Top Rockets

Don’t fall victim to revisionist history: the Los Angeles Lakers were not supposed to beat the Houston Rockets.

Then LeBron James happened.

Yes, the Rockets were unexpectedly without Kevin Durant for five of six games due to an ankle sprain and a bone bruise. It’s true that Lakers head coach JJ Redick made sound adjustments, and it’s also true that Austin Reaves, the Lakers’ second-leading scorer this season, returned in Game 5.

Still, James, at 41 years old, was the catalyst to Los Angeles upsetting the Rockets - again, Houston was heavily favored entering the series - in six games to eliminate them in the first round of the NBA playoffs.

After the Lakers beat the Rockets 98-78 in Game 6 on Friday night, James joined Amazon Prime Video’s NBA studio show. Host Taylor Rooks teed him up by saying, “We all keep saying it’s you vs. Father Time. What’s the score?”

“Oh, I’m kicking his [expletive],” James said without hesitation. “He can go to somebody else at this point. He already lost to me. It’s over with.”

James led the Lakers with 28 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds in Game 6.

According to Scott Kacsmar, James now has 51 playoff games where he recorded 28 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds in his 23-year NBA career. Twenty-eight of those have come after his 32nd birthday. The next closest are Denver Nuggets three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic with 22 and Lakers All-NBA and All-Star guard Luka Doncic with 21.

As impressive as James’ performance was against the Rockets, the Lakers’ ceiling feels capped at the Western Conference semifinals without Doncic in the lineup. Playing the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder while undermanned is not the same as playing the underperforming Rockets.

Doncic, this season’s scoring champion, suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain on April 2 and has not played since. His forecasted availability for the Western Conference semifinals is extremely cloudy. Game 1 between the Lakers and Thunder is slated for Tuesday night in Oklahoma City.

That said, never put it past LeBron James to give the Thunder a series. And whether the series lasts four or seven games, relish in the unprecedented nature of what James is doing at his age. Father Time will win eventually, even if it looks like James will play forever. Just ask Tom Brady.

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This story was originally published May 2, 2026 at 4:18 PM.