VJ Edgecombe may a rookie, but he sure didn't look like one on Wednesday night. The Philadelphia 76ers' third overall pick was superb in the first game of his NBA career, putting up 34 points, seven rebounds, three assists and a steal in his team's 117-116 win against the Boston Celtics.

Will Smith played a surprising role in deteriorating Russell Westbrook and LeBron James' relationship through his locker room visit.

LeBron James has no doubt broken the traditional norms when it comes to longevity in professional sports. At 40 years old, he continues to dominate the game at a high level, averaging close to 25 points per game.

View the Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers game played on October 21, 2025. Box score, stats, play-by-play timeline, highlights, odds & more

At 40 years old, LeBron continues to defy Father Time and naysayers by playing at an elite level. However, as he gets older and his body becomes more prone to injury, the Lakers must now find ways to compensate for James' contributions while he recovers on the sidelines.

NBA champion Ex-Lakers guard shares bold LeBron James retirement prediction originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. The LeBron James-less Los Angeles Lakers ' 2025-26 NBA season began with a demoralizing 119-109 defeat at the hands of Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night.