"LeBron's always been an incredibly adaptable player; Jordan was not, the late Kobe was not" - Colin Cowherd is certain LeBron James will ease his way into the Lakers system

Heading into his 2025-26 season debut, many believed LeBron James would look rusty and out of rhythm against the Utah Jazz, especially since he missed the entire training camp. But that assumption quickly faded as the Lakers dropped a season-high 140 points to secure a dominant home win. While James did not force himself to contribute to the scoring load much, his true brilliance came in the manner in which he elevated the game for his teammates. Not only did he control the game's tempo, but he also ensured that the Jazz had no room to make a comeback. That prompted Colin Cowherd to applaud James' calculated approach in securing all the positive limelight despite being far from his best.

Cowherd was well aware of James' strategy

With Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves averaging a combined 62.7 points per game this season, LeBron recognized it wouldn't be ideal for him to constantly demand the ball and disrupt the established rhythm of the backcourt duo. Instead, he chose a smarter route to make his presence. While Luka scored 37 points and AR added 26, LeBron made his mark by dropping a game-high dimes and acquired all the positive headlines by logging an 11-point, 12-assist double-double in less than 30 minutes of game time.

Cowherd even admitted how LBJ has an adaptability that few all-time greats possessed. He argued that players like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant failed to take a back seat and needed to score high points in order to make their presence felt, but James has always been a master of adjusting his game based on what the moment requires. As a result, LBJ deliberately chose to make his season debut against the Jazz when they missed Walker Kessler and were far from being at their defensive best.

"Last night, LeBron made his debut, and it was the perfect night. Utah is the worst defensive team by a mile in the NBA, the Lakers had 16 layups and 74 points in the paint. LeBron eased his way back into it; he didn't have the ball much in his hands. Do I think firing seven shots and having the ball 13 percent of the time, I think LeBron is going to be happy with that in April. LeBron is really smart, he's really calculated, he's always intentional. From the food he eats to the shots he takes," Cowherd said.

"LeBron's always been an incredibly adaptable player; Jordan was not, the late Kobe was not, Carmelo was not. LeBron's always been adaptable," the renowned analyst added.

LBJ in "Robin" role

Even though LeBron shot an efficient 57.1 percent from the field, he attempted only seven shots and had a usage rate of just 13 percent. Cowherd believes this approach may serve the Lakers well, as it allows James to take a backseat and let his younger teammates carry the scoring responsibilities. However, the 61-year-old analyst also wondered whether this will eventually test LeBron mentally, since being the second or even third-best player on his own team is something he has never had to accept throughout his storied career.

That being said, while analysts like Colin may continue to doubt James' willingness to adapt, the bigger question is much more straightforward - why would LeBron want to carry unnecessary pressure at this stage of his career? In fact, allowing Luka and Austin to shoulder the offensive burden gives the Lakers a dynamic scoring engine while letting James fill the gaps on both ends, without exhausting himself by playing high minutes in every game.

Related: "He does look old"- Gilbert Arenas explains why LeBron James no longer looks unstoppable

This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Nov 21, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.