The Los Angeles Lakers seemed destined to finish outside the top eight in the Western Conference for much of the season. They fell to 17-16 on December 30 and didn’t move up to eighth place until April 5. The Lakers advanced and won their first Play-In game to clinch the seventh seed in the playoffs, but none of that would have been possible. without an incredible run from LeBron James.
After the All-Star break, James averaged 27.5 points, which was fifth in the league, 9.5 assists, 7.6 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 36.0 minutes per game. He shot 58.4 percent from the field and 45.0 percent on his 3-point attempts. The Lakers had a 7.8 net rating with LeBron on the floor and were -9.4 when he went to the bench. For context, the Celtics led the NBA with a net rating of 11.7, but the Thunder finished second with 7.3.
Relying heavily on a 39-year-old will catch up with the Lakers, and that could happen in their first-round playoff series against the Nuggets. To make matters worse, the franchise has even bigger long-term concerns.
James wasn’t at the top of his game during the Lakers’ victory in New Orleans to open the Play-In tournament. He missed several shots at the rim and made just one of his five 3-point attempts. LeBron’s legs felt a little heavy, probably because he carried the Lakers to that game.
The win sealed a first-round playoff matchup against the defending champion Nuggets. Denver swept Los Angeles in the conference finals in 2023 with LeBron playing 42.7 minutes per game and averaging nearly 28 triple-double points each night.
The Lakers fortunately benefit from a few days off. The first game is Saturday at 5:30 p.m. PT, but three days of rest might not be enough for King James. The 39-year-old faces a tough matchup against Aaron Gordon, and Los Angeles needs him to play at an elite level on both ends of the floor if they have any chance of pulling off an upset.
How much does LeBron have left in the tank? It’s a legitimate question, especially after Tuesday’s performance in New Orleans. The Lakers got a win and were +11 with LBJ on the floor. They need him, but what happens when Father Time catches up with the GOAT?
They were worse after the All-Star break, but Los Angeles had a negative 5.2 net rating with LeBron James on the bench this season. That number would have placed them 23rd in the league for the entire season, with only seven lottery teams below them. The Lakers’ 0.6 net rating was the worst among playoff teams.
This is a lottery team without LeBron James, which is scary as he approaches his 40th birthday. King James cannot remain an elite forever. His 68,252 career minutes, including the playoffs, are already nearly 2,000 more than the second record in league history. LeBron can’t do this forever, and the Lakers have no answers when he no longer wears the purple and gold.
Anthony Davis is a solid number two. The Los Angeles Lakers have quality players, but finding a number one player won’t be easy. It’s fantastic to see LeBron James still playing at an elite level. It remains incredible, but the end is near and the franchise should fear this moment. They need more talent if they are to hope to compete, but acquiring it won’t be easy.
