Advanced stats have painted a bleak picture for the Los Angeles Lakers outside of their two superstars, LeBron James and Anthony Davis. According to Box Plus/Minus (BPM), the duo is carrying the team single-handedly, as every other player on the roster has posted negative BPM ratings this season. LeBron (+3.7) and Davis (+5.6) are the only players with a positive impact on the court, while the rest of the Lakers roster struggles to reach even league-average performance.
1. Anthony Davis: 5.6
2. LeBron James: 3.7
3. Rui Hachimura: -0.7
4. Jaxson Hayes: -1.5
5. Austin Reaves: -1.8
6. D’Angelo Russell: -2.1
7. Dalton Knecht: -2.3
8. Jalen Hood-Schifino: -2.9
9. Cam Reddish: -3.0
10. Max Christie: -3.2
11. Christian Koloko: -5.0
12. Gabe Vincent: -7.5
13. Maxwell Lewis: -10.0
14. Bronny James: -10.5
15. Armel Traore: -11.0
16. Quincy Olivari: -15.5
BPM is a metric designed to estimate a player’s contribution to their team based on traditional box score stats. A score of 0.0 indicates league-average performance, with values above +4.0 representing All-Star caliber seasons. By this metric, Davis’s BPM of +5.6 places him in All-NBA consideration, while LeBron’s +3.7 is indicative of a solid starter who remains one of the league’s best at age 39.
In stark contrast, the rest of the Lakers’ rotation lags far behind. Rui Hachimura’s -0.7 places him barely below league average, while Austin Reaves (-1.8) and D’Angelo Russell (-2.1) are performing at bench-player levels.
Things deteriorate further down the roster, with players like Gabe Vincent (-7.5), Maxwell Lewis (-10.0), and Bronny James (-10.5) providing virtually no value. Quincy Olivari (-15.5) rounds out the list with one of the worst BPM scores in the league.
To put these figures into perspective, the Lakers’ bench has failed to provide the level of impact expected in a competitive Western Conference. League-average players typically post a BPM around 0.0, but the Lakers’ rotation features several players performing significantly below replacement level (-2.0).
With only two players classified as starters by BPM, the Lakers rank among the league’s worst rosters in terms of depth and impact, surpassed in futility only by the Washington Wizards and New Orleans Pelicans, who have no players with positive BPM scores.
The Lakers’ struggles extend beyond individual metrics, as their overall team performance has been lackluster. Their offensive rating has fallen to 14th in the league (113.0), a stark drop from their top-five standing earlier in the season.
Their defensive rating is an alarming 26th (117.0), making them one of the league’s least effective teams on that end of the floor. Consequently, their net rating (-4.0) ranks 22nd, highlighting a disconnect between their star power and the team’s overall performance.
The Lakers’ dependency on LeBron and Davis is evident in every facet of their play. Both stars are required to play heavy minutes and deliver elite performances nightly just to keep the team afloat.
Davis’s All-NBA-level impact and LeBron’s continued excellence have been enough to keep the Lakers in the playoff picture with a 13-11 record, good for 8th in the West. However, their supporting cast’s inability to contribute meaningfully raises concerns about the team’s sustainability over an 82-game season and into the playoffs.
If the Lakers hope to solidify their playoff positioning and make a deep postseason run, their front office must address the glaring lack of depth. Whether through trades, rotations, or player development, the Lakers need to surround their stars with more competent contributors. For now, LeBron and Davis remain the pillars of a fragile structure that risks collapsing under the weight of subpar support.
Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We really appreciate your support.
