LeBron James has officially reached the end of one of the most absurd streaks in NBA history. After 1,297 consecutive games, James has finally failed to score at least 10 points in a single outing. In turn, his detractors have been convinced that the end is nigh.
For the Los Angeles Lakers, however, James' streak ending is a blessing in disguise that will finally allow him to ease into his new role with the team.
Through no fault of his own, the dynamic has changed in Los Angeles. Luka Doncic and James are still the headlining acts from a name value perspective, but Austin Reaves has emerged as a legitimate second option capable of putting the team on his back and generating wins.
Whether or not Reaves is actually a better player than James at this point in time is up for debate, but the truth facing Los Angeles is that it's actually an irrelevant discussion.
James is soon to turn 41 and whispers of retirement are louder than ever before. Even if he continues to play beyond the 2025-26 season, the Lakers have seen early signs of Doncic and Reaves being the dynamic duo of the future—and the latter's pending free agency means they'll need to learn if he can sustainably excel in a co-starring role.
With this in mind, the end of James' legendary scoring streak has opened the door for him to play more freely in his new role as a No. 3 option who operates within the flow of the game.
Lakers can ease LeBron James into No. 3 role without pressure to score
It's admittedly difficult to envision a scenario in which James is anything less than the featured star, let alone a No. 3. Circumstances dictate sacrifice, however, as Doncic and Reaves are effectively an experimental duo with an expiration date.
Reaves is looking the part of a perfect co-star on the offensive end of the floor, but questions remain about their defensive potential and even more exist in regard to the playoffs.
Reaves will be an unrestricted free agent this summer and will likely have a competitive market that could require the Lakers to pay him a star-worthy annual salary. To prove he's worth that type of cap hit, Reaves will need to show that he can translate his new star-caliber level of play to the postseason.
Doing so will require preparation, which is why it's imperative that the Lakers ensure he remains aggressive throughout the regular season.
LeBron James can now pick and choose his spots in Lakers' offense
That puts James in a challenging situation as a player who's capable of everything his co-stars are, but has less of a long-term outlook with the team. He could easily take over and utilize his unrivaled combination of size, scoring, and facilitating ability to lead Los Angeles to wins.
With the pressure off and 10 points no longer a target he needs to reach for historical purposes, however, James' role has become far less rigid.
James can take things as they come, alternating between mindsets as they fit the game he's playing. If his shot isn't falling, defense and playmaking can become his priority. If it is, no one will bat an eye if he imposes his will.
The bottom line is that he doesn't need to score a specific number of points to call his game a success—and the external pressure of doing so has been lifted.
It may mark the end of one chapter, but losing his unrivaled streak may very well be the best thing that happens to James in 2025-26. He can work his way through the regular season at a steady pace, adapting to his new role and conserving energy for the playoffs along the way.
It may not be the storybook ending of never breaking the streak that some had envisioned, but James can play winning basketball without a forced standard now that it's been broken.