NEWYou can now listen to PK Press Club articles!
It’s evident that LeBron James is not the same player he was two years ago, let alone five years ago, as he continues to try to find his place in the Los Angeles Lakers’ offense this season.
James scored 36 points on December 20 against the Los Angeles Clippers, 23 points against the Phoenix Suns on December 23 and added 18 points on Thursday night against the Houston Rockets. However, the Lakers lost each of those games and James’ plus-minus numbers got worse with each game. He was minus-33 in Los Angeles’ 119-96 loss to Houston.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PK Press Club
Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Sam Mitchell (right) talks to guard Zach LaVine (8) against the Toronto Raptors at the Air Canada Center on February 24, 2016. (Tom Szczerbowski/USA TODAY Sports)
Sam Mitchell, a former NBA forward with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Indiana Pacers who also coached in the league for the T’Wolves and Toronto Raptors, said this week on SiriusXM NBA Radio that James, who is about to turn 41, wouldn’t even be the No. 1 option for the Washington Wizards at this point.
“That’s what LeBron doesn’t understand. He hasn’t been understood yet,” Mitchell said. “Whatever team you go to, you’re the third option. You don’t go to a team when you’re the first option. If you went to the Washington Wizards, you still wouldn’t be the No. 1 option.”
The Wizards are tied for the worst record in the NBA with the Indiana Pacers.
Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick, right, talks with LeBron James during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in Inglewood, California. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO’S LATE-GAME DUNK ALMOST CAUSES A FIGHT BETWEEN Bucks and Bulls Players
Lakers head coach JJ Redick, who was particularly unhappy with his team’s performance against the Rockets, suggested Saturday that James was becoming a problem for the offense.
“Since we got Bron back, we haven’t been as organized offensively. Too many random possessions. That’s my fault. It’s those three things: defensive clarity, role clarity and offensive organization,” Redick said.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) looks to shoot the ball as he is defended by Houston Rockets forward Dorian Finney-Smith during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE PK Press Club APP
The Lakers are 19-10 this season and have lost six of their last 10 games.
