LeBron James is officially Unc. But 2025 proved the only fading away you should expect from the NBA’s oldest active player is a turnaround jumper. If anything, this year has seen Bron Bron embrace his icon status with major moves both on and off the hardwood.
It’s been a wild ride for the age-defying Lakers legend, whose 41st birthday is approaching at the end of December. Throughout 2025, LeBron pushed through injuries, weathered a league-shaking roster change, hit new milestones, and watched a few long-running streaks snap. He made the playoffs, got love (and some stray shots) from rappers, toured the Far East, wrestled with retirement, trolled fans — and chronicled every major moment on social media.
We don’t know how many more years we’ll have with LeBron in this role, hooping at a high level while palming culture across sectors. In commemoration of King James’ continued reign, Complex compiled a highlight reel of his 2025. This is The Year in LeBron.
January 3
LeBron James records his 563rd career 30-point game during the Lakers 119-102 win over the Atlanta Hawks, breaking Michael Jordan’s record for most career 30-point games.
January 23
LeBron James is named as a starter for the NBA All-Star Game. While it’s the first time in 12 years that he didn’t lead his conference in fan voting, it marks his 21st selection, extending his record.
January 25
Wu-Tang is for the children — and so is LeBron. He connected with young fans at a San Francisco meet-and-greet ahead of a 10-point win over the Golden State Warriors.
February 1
Bron Bron puts up 33 points, 12 assists, and 11 rebounds in a W over the New York Knicks, making him the first 40-year-old player to notch multiple triple-double performances. But that achievement is quickly eclipsed by a viral development: His All-NBA teammate Anthony Davis has been traded to the Mavs — and Luka Doncic has become a Laker.
February 6
LeBron drops a season-high 42 points and grabs 17 boards to outgun Steph Curry in a 120-112 Lakers win over the Warriors. “I’m old,” he says after the game. “I need a glass of wine and some sleep.”
February 10
LeBron gives Luka a pep talk to start their first game as teammates: “Be your fucking self,” he says before a thrashing of the Utah Jazz. “Don't fit in; fit the fuck out.”
February 16
Citing lingering foot and ankle discomfort, LeBron announces 90 minutes before tip-off that he will not play in the 2025 NBA All-Star Game, ending a 20-year streak. Perhaps he anticipated the mess: Reformatted as an overly complicated mini-tournament, the gameplay was maligned for too many stoppages for non-basketball theatrics.
February 24
LeBron posts a video to his Instagram story showing him vibing out to 2 Chainz and Larry June’s “Life Is Beautiful” while cruising in a top-down convertible. “The biggest vibes!!!!” he writes, followed by six flame emojis.
February 26
Conferencing in via Zoom, LeBron speaks with an Ohio State University public affairs class about philanthropy and social advocacy, encouraging the undergrads to be the change they want to see in their communities. “Hearing LeBron James tell me to keep doing the work, I was like, ‘Okay, I will,’” said one student. “‘I’ll keep going.’”
March 4
LeBron is named Western Conference Player of the Month for February. Yes, he’s the oldest player with that distinction. Hours later, he surpasses 50,000 career points across the regular season and playoffs, during the Lakers 136-115 win over the New Orleans Pelicans 136-115.
March 6
LeBron approached Stephen A. Smith courtside at Crypto Dot Com Arena between the third and fourth quarters of the Lakers’ 113-109 win over the New York Knicks to confront him about comments Smith made about Bronny James’ NBA readiness.
March 26
During an hour-plus long interview on The Pat McAfee Show, LeBron publicly speaks about his confrontation with Stephen A. Smith for the first time. “Never would I ever not allow people to talk about the sport, criticize players about what they do on the court,” James told McAfee. “That is your job to criticize or to be in a position where, OK, if a guy is not performing, that is all part of the game. That’s all part of the game. But when you take it and get personal with it, it’s my job to not only protect my damn household, but protect the players.”
April 9
LeBron enters the Barbie world as the first professional male athlete to be depicted as a Ken doll. The figurine stands at 13 inches — one inch taller than standard Kens. “He might need to do a little lifting,” Bron says of his mini replica. “Legs look a little skinny.” Can you feel the Kenergy?
April 17
LeBron attends a private advance screening of the action-horror film Sinners. “My brothers Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan did it again!!!” he writes via Twitter, adding five praise emojis. “10/10 movie!” Critics and audiences agree; the period piece notched near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes scores and grossed more than $367 million globally.
April 30
After finishing the season as the West’s three-seed, the Lakers lose to Minnesota in the first round of the playoffs. Bron puts up solid averages (25.4 points, nine rebounds, and 5.6 assists) but sprains his left knee in the elimination game, leading to a gentleman’s sweep.
May 17
LeBron James pops out for the 20th Annual Hammer Museum Gala in Los Angeles with his wife and event co-chair, Savannah. He dons a suede jacket with turquoise buttons and maxi trainers, all designed by Louis Vuitton.
June 2
Amidst a year-long fallout with Drake, LeBron quotes a lyric from the rapper’s rival, Kendrick Lamar. “Therapy showed me how to open up!” he wrote via his Instagram story. “It also showed me I don't give a F.”
June 21
Victor Wembanyama, Tom Brady, and Kai Cenat join LeBron in a live taping of The Shop at Fanatics Fest in Manhattan’s Jacob Javits Center. Brady calls Bron “the greatest ever,” and Cenat forbids him from retiring, while James jokes about Wemby “smacking my shots into the fucking stands.”
June 23
King James debuts his first collaboration with Richard Mille at Fanatics Fest — a limited-edition 65‑01 model that the watchmaker calls its “most complex timepiece ever.” With only 150 pieces produced, the purple-and-gold-accented wristwear would run you a mere $400,000 or more.
July 1
Amazon drops an ad for Prime Day that depicts LeBron playfully pondering his post-basketball life. He daydreams about becoming a camp counselor, pivoting to piano singing, and flinging shrimp as a hibachi chef.
July 2
Bron shows love to Benny the Butcher by reposting his new song, “Summer ’25.” “THE BUTCHER COMING,” he writes on Twitter. Six triumph emojis this time.
July 5
Drake calls out former friends who switched sides after his beef with Kendrick Lamar — and fans speculate that LeBron is a target. "I saw bro at the Pop Out with them but been dickriding gang since ‘Headlines,’” he rapped on “What Did I Miss?”
July 11
LeBron joins Bad Bunny onstage during the first night of Benito’s summer-long residency in Puerto Rico.
July 14
Bronny James puts up a 17/5/5 stat line in a solid summer league performance, as dad watches from the sidelines along with new Laker recruit, DeAndre Ayton.
July 21
Tyler, the Creator releases the minimalist music video for "Stop Playing With Me," featuring cameos by Clipse, LeBron, and his agent, Rich Paul.
July 22
A video is released showing LeBron and Savannah James rapping along to Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” while vacationing in Cannes.
August 24
Watching the PGA tour’s final event, LeBron gives first-time winner Tommy Fleetwood his props. “That first one feeling is something else!” he tweets. “Especially after dealing with adversity and shortcomings.” Five flame emojis.
September 4
LeBron visits Shanghai to unveil his Nike LeBron 23 sneaker and announce 23(!) upcoming colorways, each one representing a significant career moment or chapter. The Forever King spoke on camera with Complex Sneakers about his trajectory: “I remember when I was a kid walking around... like, ‘Wow, how cool would it be if someone wore a LeBron James shoe?’”
September 5
LeBron wraps the Nike-sponsored Forever King tour in Chengdu. Days later, his editorial is published in People's Daily, the Chinese Communist Party’s official newspaper, touting the connective power of the game: “Basketball is not only a sport, but also a bridge.”
September 6
Bronny’s dad is officially in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame! He attended a ceremony in Springfield, Mass., to be enshrined as a member of the 2008 USA Basketball squad, known as the Redeem Team. James’ solo induction will have to wait until he’s unlaced his sneakers for good.
September 18
Complex publishes its second interview with Bron in two weeks: an episode of 360 With Speedy, where LBJ talks golf, retirement, memes, and Drake. “Different places right now,” he says of his relationship with the 6ix God. “He's doing his thing, I'm doing mine, but it's always love.”
September 29
At the Lakers’ media day, LeBron hints at retirement timing. "I'm not waiting on Bryce," James says of teaming up with his youngest son, a U of Arizona freshman. "He has his own timeline, I got my timeline, and I don't know if they quite match up."
September 30
Kai Cenat celebrates hitting 1 million Twitch subscribers exactly as you’d expect: LeBarber chopping off the 23-year-old streamer’s locs.
October 2
The Main Thing—LeBron’s podcast that focuses on elite technicians across career paths—debuts on YouTube, featuring skateboard legend Tony Hawk as a guest.
October 7
LeBron had been teasing a cryptic announcement, dubbed The Second Decision. Could he be pushing for a trade? Calling it quits? Neither. It turned out to be an ad campaign: “This fall, I'm going to be taking my talents to Hennessy V.S.O.P."
October 21
The Lakers' 2025-26 season begins with their aging star sporting street clothes. Sidelined by sciatica, Bron watches Jimmy Butler and the Warriors cruise to victory.
October 25
LeBron chimes in on the Cash Money vs. No Limit Verzuz during Complex Con, crowning Mia X the MVP of the historic event.
November 18
After missing the first 14 games of the season, LeBron returns from injury, putting up 11 points and 12 assists in his season debut—a 140-126 rout over the Jazz. The appearance marks the start of his unprecedented 23rd NBA season.
December 4
LeBron’s record of 1,297 consecutive double-digit scoring efforts ends in the most LeBron way possible: He passes up the final shot to set up Rui Hachimura's game-winning three. Bron finishes with eight points, but he cares more about the win over the Toronto Raptors than preserving his streak. “You always make the right play,” James says. “I've done that my whole career.”
December 7
LeBron notches his 1,015th career win, pushing him past Robert Parish for second-most all-time. He scored a season-high 29 points (including 10 straight in clutch time) to beat the Philadelphia 76ers, 112-108. “That excitement of going out, either excitement or the boos or the cheers... you'll never be able to get that back once you're done playing,” he says after the game.