LeBron James hasn’t stepped onto an NBA court for real action since April 30, 2025, when the Lakers were knocked out of the playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves. For a 40-year-old superstar with two decades of mileage, the return process isn’t just about healing — it’s about rebuilding. After months away from competition, LeBron eased back into basketball activities by working with the South Bay Lakers before rejoining full practices with the main roster.
But despite the excitement around his return, the biggest obstacle isn’t what most fans expected. According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, LeBron’s main challenge isn’t his injury, timing, or mobility… it’s his conditioning. And LeBron himself gave a jaw-dropping description of where he stands physically right now.
McMenamin revealed on NBA Today that LeBron told him he currently feels like he has “newborn baby lungs,” a striking admission that has stunned fans across the NBA world. It’s not that he’s out of shape overall — it’s that the deep, game-level stamina required for NBA competition still isn’t fully back.
When LeBron addressed the media, he doubled down on the comment. “My lungs feel like a newborn baby … I got to get my lungs back up to a grown man,” he said, making it clear that the toughest part of his comeback has become rebuilding the kind of endurance that once made him one of the most durable players in league history.
Still, the Lakers are encouraged. Over the past week, James has increased his workload, amping up his intensity and testing his body with more demanding drills. Coaches say his progress is noticeable, but with LeBron, the final call always comes down to how he feels on game day.
With the Utah Jazz matchup on Tuesday looming, James hasn’t ruled out making his debut. In true LeBron fashion, he kept the situation simple:
If his body responds well when he wakes up, he just might suit up.
Until then, the NBA world waits — and wonders — whether those “baby lungs” will be ready for battle.
