The Los Angeles Lakers can’t keep LeBron James if they want to be serious title contenders. The soon-to-be 41-year-old’s return from injury was boosted by starting with a five-game win streak. LA has gone 4-6 since and allowed 121.7 points per game. King James has clearly lost a step, and it is time for the Lakers to move on.
The writing is on the wall. James opted into his player option, but did not receive an extension in the offseason. He is in the final year of his contract and will be an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2026. The Lakers targeted players under 30 this offseason (subscription required) and have clearly shifted to Luka Doncic’s timeline. LBJ no longer fits that mold.
LeBron has been a problem since returning to the lineup. The Lakers were 10-4 without him, and head coach JJ Redick may already be calling out the all-time leading scorer. It is time to move on if they want to be a serious threat to win it all.
LeBron James is playing his way off the Lakers
LBJ is averaging 20.2 points, 6.8 assists, 5.1 rebounds, and 0.9 steals in 33.3 minutes per game after 13 contests this season. It would be the lowest scoring and rebounding averages of his legendary career. James is shooting just 31.1 percent from 3-point range, and the advanced metrics tell a similar tale.
He rates as just above league average by win shares per 48 minutes. His 0.102 is the lowest LeBron has produced since his rookie season in 2004. The Lakers are paying $52.6 million for a slightly above-average player. That is a death knell in the second apron era.
Los Angeles has a negative-7.1 net rating with King James on the floor so far this season. They are 9.6 points per 100 possessions worse when he plays and have been outscored by 59 points in his first 432 minutes.
The Lakers defense is a problem. LeBron is a below average option at this stage, which puts Los Angeles at a talent deficit. They can score with the best teams, but must upgrade their defense to have any shot.
Fans can’t suddenly expect a 41-year-old to transform back into a superstar. LeBron missed the first 14 regular-season games with a back injury, but he has played for over a month already. Things are getting worse, not better, for James and the Lakers. With Austin Reaves out for the next month, there is little reason for optimism in LA.
This leaves Jeanie Buss and the Lakers in a difficult spot. They are known for taking care of their stars and letting them retire as a Laker. LeBron wants to play and will be looking for another massive payday. The franchise must choose between contending and keeping King James happy. It should be an easy call, but it won’t be for the purple and gold.
LeBron’s streak of 21 straight years on the All-NBA will come to an end this season. He is still better than most players, even after a sharp decline. The Lakers must put him in positions to succeed whenever he is on the floor. That means exploiting mismatches, using his basketball IQ, and locking in on defense. Fans haven’t really seen that King James this season.
The Los Angeles Lakers must move on from LeBron James if they want to win another championship. Fans know the grind of the playoff schedule. They can’t expect LBJ to shine at his age with so many games in a short window. The slippage is already on full display. It is time to let LeBron go and build around number 77.