With Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James seemingly playing on a year to year basis, he is preparing for what could potentially be his final NBA playoff run. At the minimum, there’s been intense speculation that he is entering his final games as a member of the Lakers.
A reflective James recently provided insight into his current mood while also revealing the Eastern Conference team he’d like to play for the NBA championship.
LeBron James Names Boston Celtics As Dream NBA Finals Opponent
James discussed the upcoming playoffs on the latest edition of the “Mind The Game Podcast” with Steve Nash, and revealed he’d like to see a Lakers vs Celtics NBA Finals. James said “That’ll be crazy, oh my God. I had a lot of Celtics series when I was in the East. They don’t quite like me there.”
The Lakers vs Celtics rivalry is arguably the greatest in NBA history. They gave met in the NBA Finals 12 times, with many of the game’s greatest legends taking part in these historic matchups.
James wants to join Bill Russell, Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce, among other Hall of Famers who helped create this historic rivalry.
James has a tough road to the Finals, starting with the Lakers’ first-round series against the Houston Rockets, a team that gave them significant problems at times during the regular season. The Lakers rallied from an embarrassing home loss on Christmas to win two straight road games against the Rockets.
Emphasis on nitpick 😅
OKC might still be the favorite, but @SteveNash breaks down their weaknesses.
New episode out now. Link in bio. pic.twitter.com/z5KJJiK9jj
— Mind the Game (@mindthegamepod) April 14, 2026
James played a significant role in those wins, while the Rockets struggled to stop Luka Dončić. Dončić’s first-round status is uncertain, as he’s currently out of action with a left hamstring strain. Secondary playmaker Austin Reaves is also currently unavailable while dealing with an oblique injury. The Rockets’ defensive game plan is much easier, as they can load up to stop James.
Like many in the NBA community, James believes the Celtics are the favorite in the East, especially with the return of All-NBA wing Jayson Tatum. His comments may not sit well with the top-seeded Detroit Pistons, especially since franchise player Cade Cunningham has returned to the lineup.
James is eyeing another chance to beat the Celtics in the playoffs, something he’s done multiple times as a member of the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers. However, there’s a lot of work ahead to reach the destination.
