- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Carmelo Anthony Defends LeBron James' Dominance in the NBA
Former Lakers star says the league "doesn't move without Bron"
Published on Feb. 18, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
In a recent podcast interview, former NBA player Carmelo Anthony defended his longtime friend and Lakers star LeBron James, saying the league "doesn't move without Bron" and that James is "still holding this league down" despite being 41 years old. Anthony praised James' longevity and impact, even as some fans are eager for a new generation of stars to take over.
Why it matters
LeBron James' continued dominance at an advanced age for an NBA player has been a polarizing topic, with some eager to see younger stars take over while others appreciate James' sustained excellence. Anthony's strong defense of James' importance to the league reflects the ongoing debate around the NBA's changing of the guard.
The details
In the interview, Anthony said James is "living long enough to be the villain" but is "still holding this league down." He argued that "this league doesn't move without Bron" and said he doesn't "give a f**k what anybody says" about that. The comments come after a historic performance by the 41-year-old James, who recently became the oldest player in NBA history to record a triple-double.
- On February 12, 2026, LeBron James recorded a triple-double, becoming the oldest player in NBA history to do so.
- The interview with Carmelo Anthony was on a recent episode of the 7PM in Brooklyn podcast.
The players
LeBron James
A 41-year-old NBA superstar who currently plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. He is considered one of the greatest players of all time and has continued to dominate the league even at an advanced age for an NBA player.
Carmelo Anthony
A former NBA player who was a longtime friend and teammate of LeBron James. He recently defended James' continued dominance and importance to the league in a podcast interview.
What they’re saying
“He's living long enough to be the villain... Still holding this league down. This league doesn't move without Bron. I don't give a f**k what anybody says. It doesn't move without Bron.”
— Carmelo Anthony (7PM in Brooklyn podcast)
The takeaway
LeBron James' sustained excellence and dominance at 41 years old has sparked an ongoing debate about the NBA's changing of the guard, with some eager for younger stars to take over while others appreciate James' continued impact. Carmelo Anthony's strong defense of James' importance to the league reflects the polarizing nature of this discussion.
