LeBron James has never been afraid of contact. For most of his career, he has been one of the NBA’s most dominant finishers at the rim, showcasing part power, part skill, and part sheer will. But last season marked a turning point. Just 35 percent of his shot attempts came at the rim, which is the lowest percentage of his career.
LeBron James' days of living at the rim are quickly fading
For a player who has built his offensive game around paint touches and high-efficiency finishes, that drop matters. According to Jovan Buha of Buha’s Block, that number not only ties for the second-fewest in LeBron’s 22 seasons, but also puts him “in just the 29th percentile of all bigs," despite playing more minutes at power forward and center than ever before.
That is what makes this stand out even more. The Los Angeles Lakers used LeBron in bigger lineups. He shared the floor with smaller wings, played next to stretch fours, and even operated as a small-ball five. The result? Fewer shots at the basket, not more.
This is not a discussion about effort or effectiveness. LeBron still put up 24.4 points per game on over 51 percent shooting from the field. His ability to create from the perimeter, run the offense, and hit big shots has not disappeared. This stat reflects a shift in how he operates.
Buha put it simply: “Maybe part of this is he’s about to be 41… and the wear and tear of playing in the paint is a little too much for him.”
That tracks. At this stage of his career, taking fewer hits in traffic is probably more about sustainability than anything else.
Still, it leaves the Lakers with a challenge. Without LeBron constantly attacking the rim, the team loses a layer of offensive pressure. The defense does not collapse as often, which impacts spacing for shooters and timing for cutters.
The solution is not to demand more from LeBron, it is to help him thrive with smarter opportunities. Cuts off-ball, short rolls, quick seals, and deep catches can all put him near the rim without the strain of isolation drives.
This evolution is not a warning sign, it is a natural part of aging. There is a reason this franchise extened Luka Doncic, but it is also a reminder that the Lakers need to adjust around their aging star, not just lean on him to be the same guy forever.
LeBron is still elite, but how he gets his points is changing. Recognizing that early might be the difference between another deep playoff run and another early exit.