LeBron James continues to produce at a level that exceeds anything the NBA has seen from a player who's soon to turn 40. It's an unavoidable truth that Los Angeles Lakers fans are as aware of as anyone, as James has defied the odds to flirt with a nightly triple-double in his 22nd season.
Unfortunately, one statistic encompasses the harsh reality of how James' statistically brilliant season on offense has been all but entirely offset by his uncharacteristically dreadful play on defense.
James has produced an otherworldly collection of averages—whether he's 39 or not. Through 24 appearances, he's averaging 22.8 points, 9.1 assists, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.1 three-point field goals made on an efficient slash line of .492/.365/.743.
James is on pace to join Luka Doncic as the only players in NBA history to average at least 22.0 points, 9.0 assists, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.0 threes per game in multiple seasons.
For as impressive as that may be, James' struggles on defense have all but neutralized his offensive value. It's perhaps a reach to question his effort, but the results of what he's put forth have thus far been wildly disappointing.
That all begins with the alarming statistic that the Lakers are allowing 11.3 fewer points per 100 possessions when James isn't on the court.
Lakers allowing 11.3 fewer points when LeBron James is on the bench
Thus far in 2024-25, the Lakers are allowing 117.5 points per 100 possessions when James is on the floor. That's, far and away, the worst mark of any player on the roster who has spent at least 65 minutes on the court this season.
When James is off the court, the Lakers are allowing 106.2 points per 100 possessions—easily the lowest tally for any player who has spent at least 65 minutes on the court this season.
The 11.3-point difference is reason enough to sound the alarms and question what the best path forward is. The more concerning element of the numbers, however, is the fact that the Lakers are at their worst on defense when James is present and at their best when he isn't.
It feels wrong to even write this sentence, but James has effectively become a net negative—and the numbers support that statement.
In addition to the massive swing of points on defense, Los Angeles has been significantly better overall without James than with him. They're being outscored by 8.2 points per 100 possessions when he's on the court, which trails only Max Christie for the worst mark of any Laker who has played at least 65 minutes.
Conversely, the Lakers are outscoring opponents by 3.4 points per 100 possessions when James isn't on the court—the highest off-court point differential on the team.
Perhaps James' recent time away from the team will provide him with the opportunity to refresh and gain a different perspective that facilitates improvement. He certainly looked solid in his return to the court, posting 18 points, eight rebounds, eight assists, two blocks, and a steal in a 116-110 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.
If the Lakers are going to right the ship and become the contenders they're capable of being, however, then James will need to become a consistent source of at least adequate defense.