If Sunday (Feb. 1, 2026) turns out to be LeBron James’ final game as a professional basketball player at Madison Square Garden — the legendary “World’s Most Famous Arena” — former Los Angeles Lakers coach Mike Brown will be in the building… though not necessarily supporting him.
The New York Knicks head coach opened up about James and the Lakers coming to town Sunday, in what could be James’ last game at MSG.
James, now 41, is in the final season of a two-year, $101 million contract signed before the 2024-25 campaign. He remains elite, averaging the third-most points (21.9) and minutes (33.1) per game on the Lakers.
Still, James is just 20 games shy of breaking the NBA record for career games played and has already set the league record for points and seasons played. That leaves him with very little left to accomplish.
LeBron James Is One of the Smartest Guys Mike Brown Has Been Around James has been a household name since his teenage years at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio. Yet the fact that he turned genius-level skill into the undisputed greatest player in NBA history is a testament to his work ethic, said his former coach.
“He’s got to be, if not the smartest guy I’ve been around in terms of fuel and stuff, he’s top-three,” Brown said Friday night after the Knicks’ 127-97 win over the Portland Trail Blazers at MSG. “Unbelievable talent. Unbelievable human being. He’s done a lot for the community. He’s done a lot for the NBA.”
Brown, like James, hails from Ohio and was James’ head coach with the Cleveland Cavaliers for five years, reaching the 2007 NBA Finals (lost to San Antonio Spurs). James went to the Miami Heat in 2010, and Brown took over the Lakers in 2011-12 for just 71 games before being let go five games into the 2012-13 season.
Still, he and James have remained close, even after their paths crossed in the NBA Finals in consecutive years in 2016-17 and 2017-18 when Brown’s Golden State Warriors defeated James and the Cavaliers.
Mike Brown: LeBron James Has Earned the Right to Play as Long as He Wants For Lakers fans worried about James calling it a career after this season, Brown pumped the brakes on this season being the end.
“He’s earned the right to play as long as he wants,” Brown said. “He’s definitely doing it, and he’s doing it at a high level.”
Still, all eyes will be on New York just in case Sunday is his final game at MSG. Despite never playing for the Knicks, James has dominated the Big Apple, averaging 28 points, 7.4 assists, and 6.9 rebounds per game over 32 games at the Garden in his legendary career.
The Lakers have not lost a game at MSG that LeBron has played in and have won three straight in New York. Last year, James led the Lakers with 33 points, 12 assists, and 11 rebounds in their 128-112 win over the Knicks on Feb. 1 — mere hours before LA consummated the Anthony Davis-for-Luka Dončić trade.
Lakers Nation & Knicks fans – do you think Sunday could be LeBron’s final game at MSG?
What moment would you want to see if this is the last time he plays there?