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'It's up to the Lakers': What LeBron needs to return to L.A. -- and why it's not so simple

ESPN · May 13, 2026, 1:21 PM · Also reported by 4 other sources

Key takeaways

  • It was March 31 and the Lakers had just completed arguably their most impressive win of the season with a 127-113 triumph over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
  • The win was the 1,229th of James' career and moved him past Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most victories by any player in NBA history (combined regular season and playoffs).
  • Still, James's celebratory mood didn't last long.

Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.

It was March 31 and the Lakers had just completed arguably their most impressive win of the season with a 127-113 triumph over the Cleveland Cavaliers. The victory avenged a 30-point loss to the Cavs on Jan. 28 and capped a 32-day stretch in which L.A. went 16-2 to surge up the Western Conference standings.

The win was the 1,229th of James' career and moved him past Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most victories by any player in NBA history (combined regular season and playoffs). Not to mention, it came on a night when Luka Doncic topped 15,000 career points and Rui Hachimura reached 5,000.

Still, James's celebratory mood didn't last long.

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