LeBron James is savouring the "small victories" after leading the Los Angeles Lakers to the next round of the NBA playoffs.

The Lakers eliminated the Houston Rockets with a 98-78 win in Game 6 of their Western Conference first-round playoff series on Friday, with James playing a starring role.

He scored 28 points, as well as adding seven rebounds and eight assists, as the Lakers advanced to the conference semifinals for the first time since 2023, when they lost to the Denver Nuggets.

James became the oldest player in NBA history to lead all players in a playoff series for total points scored, finishing the round with 139.

And after a hard-fought win, James gave himself a rare moment to embrace the accomplishment.

"It's not my style at all," James told ESPN.

"I think me personally, the accepting and trying to be OK with the small victories comes with where I am in my career. Understanding, s***, who knows how many more playoff series I'm going to be a part of?

"If I play one more, or two more, or three more seasons, that doesn't guarantee me to be in the postseason. So just trying to appreciate the moments, whatever they are, and however long I'm playing.

"It's pretty cool to have the opportunity to lead a team, at 41 years old, into the playoffs and for us to be able to win it."

Celebrating the series-clinching win pic.twitter.com/E8BZsnB6xe

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) May 2, 2026

Los Angeles held Houston to a season-low in points, despite Amen Thompson finishing with 18 and Alperen Sengun adding 17.

The Lakers have coped admirably without injured duo Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves in the playoffs, with that duo taking the headlines for much of the regular season. 

"I mean, to be able to experience something [new], it was just totally different for me," James told ESPN. "In March, it was a totally different role for me.

"It was super uncomfortable, but comfortable. I had to get into that. But it was also winning. That's all I care about.

"But I knew at the same time I could give more. But maybe giving more wasn't what was a fit for our team. And I accepted that, and I was OK with that.

"Not from a team aspect, I was OK with that. I was able to put my ego to the side for the betterment of the team, understanding that I could do it."

The Lakers will now face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the next round of the playoffs, and head coach JJ Redick is looking forward to the challenge after Los Angeles quieted their doubters.

"For us to be written off a few weeks ago and to win a playoff series is a big deal," Redick said.

"And it just speaks to the character of our team and the leaders of our team. They didn't let go of the rope."