On Tuesday, April 22, the Los Angeles Lakers were up against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 2 of the 2025 playoffs. And while they pulled off a gritty 94-85 win to even the series, fans weren’t just focused on the scoreboard.
LeBron James, still reportedly pushing through a left hip flexor strain, showed signs of wear. And fans watching closely didn’t hold back.
Instead of focusing only on his stat line, they zeroed in on one thing – how tired the 40-year-old looked as Austin Reaves kept throwing him alley-oops like it was 2013 all over again.
LeBron James’ Tired Gameplay Sparks Hilarious Fan Reactions
James finished with a double-double, scoring 21 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists. But it was his body language that really had fans talking. The 40-year-old has reportedly been battling a hip flexor strain and still logged 40 minutes on the floor Tuesday night. And when Reaves kept tossing him lobs, NBA fans quickly turned it into a running joke.
One fan, clearly amused, asked, “Do Reaves know how old Bron is?”— highlighting how unrealistic some of those passes looked given James’ current state.
Another user quipped, “Throwing lobs to 40-year-old Bron is elder abuse.” It was part roast, part appreciation that the ‘King’ is even attempting those plays at this age.
Another fan pointed out the timeline mismatch, saying, “Reaves think he playing with Miami Bron.” That tweet echoed the sentiment that while Reaves might be full of energy, James isn’t exactly leaping like he did during his early days.
The reactions kept pouring in. “Austin gotta stop throwing lobs to 40yr old Bron,” one user laughed, while another added, “Bron is 40 and TIRED, stop trying to throw him the alley Reaves lol!”
Even though the lob attempts didn’t result in highlight dunks, the chemistry between the two was still productive. Reaves ended the night with 16 points, five rebounds, and five assists on 7-of-14 shooting.
James, for his part, shot 8-of-19 from the floor and hit just one of five attempts from 3. But more than the numbers, it was the physical toll of the game and his effort through it that stood out.
LeBron James Aware Of The Grind Against The Timberwolves
Though James didn’t directly respond to the social media chatter, he did speak about the physical battle the game turned into. “If you’re not dog-a** tired after this game… you didn’t give it all you had,” he shared after the game.
LeBron James on matching the Wolves' intensity the rest of the series 😤 pic.twitter.com/SpVoGzxsWg
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) April 23, 2025
That summed up his night well. The hip flexor issue didn’t stop him from suiting up and giving the Lakers what they needed—a veteran presence and a much-needed win to keep the series alive.
The series now heads to Minnesota for Game 3, and fans will be watching closely, not just for dunks, but for how much more James can push through.