The Los Angeles Lakers have been an interesting team all season long. Starting the year without LeBron James, Los Angeles relied on a heater from Luka Dončić to get off to a hot start. But incorporating a four-time MVP, even at 41, took some time, particularly with three ball-dominant players in the starting lineup.
However, a little after the All-Star break, things finally seemed to have clicked into place. Austin Reaves has taken on the role of the secondary scoring option, while the oldest player in the league has become a perfect Swiss Army knife. However, one analyst doesn’t believe this model is sustainable, particularly at James’ age.
Can the Lakers Sustain LeBron James’ New Role?
Historically one of the highest-usage players in the league every year, James has long been the engine of his team’s offense. But with another MVP-level shot creator in his prime, there was the possibility that he could take his foot off the gas.
Given his generational athletic skills and stature, the four-time NBA champion seemed like the best option to take a backseat, as he could affect the game in a variety of other ways as well, as opposed to Dončić or Reaves, who functioned best as scoring threats.
That is exactly the recipe the Lakers have adopted in their recent stretch, as they’ve won 15 of their last 17 games. During that run, they’ve beaten the New York Knicks, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Houston Rockets, solidifying their spot as the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference.
But the numbers from James are almost entirely unique for a player suiting up for a historic 23rd season in the NBA. Tied with his career low in points per game at 20.9, he’s kept up his end of the bargain with 6 rebounds and 7 assists.
Ryen Russillo, during a recent appearance on “The Herd,” argued that this was evidence of Father Time finally catching up to The King. “He’s accepted the role because it finally happened. The decline is here.”
While he admitted that James could be better in a playoff run, the doubt remains. “At this point, I think there’ll be the huge playoff game. But then there will also be a playoff game where it feels like the diminishing athleticism and him being hunted defensively is going to show up.”
That could signal doom for Los Angeles’ postseason chances. But with his energy being conserved on offense, James has been more engaged on defense than in years past. Whether that translates to the playoffs will be another question altogether, though.
