Los Angeles Lakers Regular Season Grades: Forwards and Centers

LeBron James: A-

Defensive Real Plus-Minus: 1.85 (2nd)

Field-Goal Percentage Differential: -3.6 (3rd)

Defensive Rating: 106.9 (6th)

Offensive Rating: 109 (1st)

On/Off Offensive Differential: 6.0 (1st)

Traditional Stats: 27 PPG, 9 RPG, 8 APG, .510 FG%

Much of the racket about LeBron’s decline during the 2018-2019 season was simply noise. LeBron finished the season ranked 9th out of the 92 small forwards in the NBA in defensive real plus-minus, which wasn’t bad considering he had to carry the Lakers offensive on his shoulders for much of the season.

Despite the way LeBron slowed down on defense after his groin injury, he still managed to hold his assignments to nearly four percentage points less than their average. He also finished 6th on the Lakers in defensive rating.

LeBron James led the Lakers in every major offensive statistic including points per game, offensive rating, and on/off offensive differential.

James finished the season with an astounding .755 FG% from 0-3 feet, which shows he’s still one of the best finishers at the rim in the league. James’s mid-range game was also solid. He shot 42% from 10-16 feet and 45% from 16 feet to the 3-point line.

LeBron James ended the year as the Lakers best player and one of the top-10 players in the NBA, but he still doesn’t get an A+ for the 2018-2019 season because of his attitude.

Most of the players on the Lakers didn’t like LeBron James. There were a few games that I went to after the trade deadline where the hatred emanating from Kyle Kuzma and Brandon Ingram toward LeBron was palpable.

LeBron James wasn’t able to connect with the young Lakers and inspire them. Instead, he acted like they weren’t good enough to play with him. LeBron had impressive numbers during the regular season, but his statistics didn’t lead to wins, and that’s because most of the other players on the Lakers didn’t want to go to war with him.

LeBron James was the only player in the NBA to finish the season in the top 10 in ESPN’s real plus-minus, but not lead his team into the playoffs. That’s not a good look for the self-proclaimed “GOAT.”