The numbers don’t lie – LeBron James and the Lakers are going through a rough patch. After a promising start to the season, Los Angeles has dropped five of their last seven games, prompting a closer look at their superstar’s performance.
While James’s season averages remain impressive for a 39-year-old – 22.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 9.1 assists per game – they’ve dipped noticeably from last year’s marks of 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 8.3 assists. The most glaring decline? His three-point shooting has plummeted from 41% to 34.5%.
But it’s not just about individual stats. The Lakers have been outscored by 111 points during LeBron’s minutes this season, the worst plus-minus on the team. This alarming trend has the front office reconsidering their ambitious plan to have James play all 82 games.
The fact that LeBron played on the US Olympic team can’t be ignored. After representing Team USA this past summer, James is showing signs of fatigue that even his legendary conditioning can’t completely overcome. At 39, even the King needs his rest.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23).
© Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
That said, it’s too early to sound any major alarms. The Lakers sit at 12-9, and we’re barely a quarter into the season. But with James’s recent struggles coinciding with the team’s skid, the question isn’t whether or not coach JJ Redick needs to reconsider LeBron’s load management – it’s how soon it needs to start.
