LeBron James hasn’t forgotten how things went down last postseason—and neither have the Lakers. The tension between these two teams didn’t just appear out of nowhere. It hit another level during the 2023 Western Conference Finals and has stuck around ever since. You can feel it every time they share the floor.
Denver’s had the upper hand for a while now. They’ve taken 14 of the last 17 meetings against LA, including a brutal run of seven straight in the playoffs. That kind of streak leaves a mark, even if it’s not the worst one a team’s dealt with over the last 20 years. And just like that, the tension that had been simmering between LeBron and Michael Malone suddenly feels like it’s come full circle.
The same coach who brought Denver its first-ever championship in 2023 and kept them in winning form for eight straight seasons is now gone. On Tuesday, the Nuggets made the call. And you know what’s wild? An old LeBron Instagram post just aged like fine wine.
Back when Malone couldn’t help but throw a few jabs during Denver’s title run, the King clapped back with a post that’s now going viral again. “In Europe for the last past few weeks minding my business and hear I’m on your mind that much huh??? mean guess see why. But Wave the flag on these lames!! Please make being player cool again cause the lame machine is at an all-time high. Enjoy your light but just know I’m the SUN. stay on forever!”
Never forget when LeBron COOKED Mike Malone
“Enjoy your light but just know I’m the SUN” pic.twitter.com/02qEJM9KjM
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) April 8, 2025
At the time, it felt like typical NBA shade. But now, with Malone packing up and the 21x All-Star still rocking the purple and gold, that caption hits way harder. The dude called himself the sun. And here we are—LeBron’s still burning bright while Malone’s light got cut.
And if you’re wondering what helped push Malone out the door, look no further than Denver’s defense—or lack of it. Nikola Jokic is usually the calmest guy on the court, but even he’s hit his limit. Per The Athletic, the three-time MVP has grown tired of Denver’s shaky defense—and honestly, who could blame him?
Despite hanging near the top of the West, the Nuggets rank 20th in defensive rating. That’s not just bad—it’s playoff-risk bad. Every other team in that range is already out of the race. Denver’s the odd one in.
And here’s the kicker: Jokic has been putting up insane numbers this month—45 points, 12.3 rebounds, 10.7 assists. But guess what? They’ve still lost four straight. It’s like watching someone drop a triple-double on Hall of Fame mode and still catch an L.
The Nuggets sit at fourth for now, but just barely. One rough stretch, and they’re in play-in territory. They haven’t missed the playoffs since 2018, but with Malone gone, this defense has to shape up—fast. But while the Nuggets are scrambling to hold onto a playoff spot, LeBron James is out here showing the league how it’s done at 40.
LeBron James shares his intense training regime
LeBron James isn’t just surviving in Year 22—he’s torching the league like it’s 2013. The man’s averaging 24.5 points a night, outscoring Steph and trailing Dame by a sliver. And he’s doing it at 40. If that doesn’t make you shake your head in disbelief, I don’t know what will.
The caption calling himself the Sun? Yeah, makes perfect sense now. Most players are fading by this age—LeBron’s still shining so bright, others need shades.
So how’s he pulling this off? It’s not luck. On the Mind The Game podcast with Steve Nash, Bron broke down his offseason grind, and trust me—it’s not for the lazy.
Feb 6, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) dunks for the basket against the against the Golden State Warriors during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
He’s in the gym five days a week, Monday through Friday. Saturday? Nothing. Just straight-up recovery. Sunday’s for body work and getting his mind right. Mondays hit the hardest—it’s the “most strenuous,” he says. Tuesdays are for running, jumpers, and getting his legs back. Wednesdays? That midweek wall shows up, but he pushes through.
His workouts mix three days of lifting with two focused on band work, mobility drills, and straight skill sharpening. And he keeps it rolling for 8 to 10 weeks leading into the season.
Look, dudes half his age are trying to catch up. Meanwhile, LeBron’s out here reminding everyone—he is the sun.
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