LeBron James is already locked in for his 23rd NBA season — and he’s starting his workday before sunrise.
On Monday morning, the 40-year-old Los Angeles Lakers forward posted an Instagram Story at 4:49 a.m., showing himself headed to an early workout. “4:49 AM Let’s get it! Year 23 coming soon!” James wrote.
The post signals James’s continued dedication as he prepares for his 22nd regular season and 23rd overall NBA campaign, including playoffs. No other player in league history has entered a 23rd season at this level of productivity.
After suffering a left knee sprain in the Lakers’ first-round playoff exit to the Minnesota Timberwolves in April, James has shifted his focus toward readiness for training camp. Monday’s early grind appears to be part of that plan.
Despite turning 40 last December, James maintained elite production throughout the 2024–25 season. He averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists over 70 games while shooting 51.3% from the field.
His campaign included several milestones: surpassing 50,000 career points across regular season and playoffs, breaking Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record for regular-season minutes played, and becoming the oldest player in NBA history to score 40+ points in a game.
Although he missed the 2025 All-Star Game due to foot and ankle soreness, James continued to produce at a historic rate. He passed Dirk Nowitzki for fourth on the all-time regular-season games played list and moved to third on the playoff double-doubles leaderboard, overtaking Wilt Chamberlain.
As the Lakers prepare to chase contention in the 2025–26 season, their veteran leader appears to be wasting no time.
