At 39 years old, a gradual decline was inevitable for LeBron James. But amid a stretch of particularly bad games, the panic level is rising for Lakers Nation that the King’s best days may be behind him.
Over the last 8 games, LeBron is averaging 19.6 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 8.8 assists per game on 46% shooting from the field and 28% shooting from three. He’s up to 5.3 turnovers per game at -72. As a team, the Lakers are 4-4 and have fallen to 6th in the West after being as high as third in the standings.
In the last game against the Thunder, he dropped just 12 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists in 34 minutes. It was his worst game of the season so far and it resulted in a crushing loss for the Lakers.
“LeBron looking old asl and cost us the game… Last elite years were wasted rotting away with trash rosters and management,” wrote a Lakers fan in disgust.
Now, with the Lakers free-falling down the standings, the pressure for LeBron to perform and carry his team is higher than ever. At 39 years old, the Lakers are looking to LeBron for everything and if he’s compromised in any way, it could jeopardize their chances to make another championship run.
“Dalton Knecht lead the Lakers in scoring, AGAIN. Where’s James and Davis? I’m sorry, but James looked washed lately,” wrote one Lakers fan after the game.
It’s too early to say for certain what is plaguing LeBron James. Some fans have theorized that an undisclosed injury could be the cause, while others believe it’s just an extended cold streak. Of course, at 39 years old, it could be possible that LeBron’s game has finally started to reflect his age.
“BREAKING: LeBron James is officially washed up. End of an era,” wrote one disheartened fan.
As the King of longevity, LeBron’s 21-year career has been nothing short of impressive. He’s set a new standard for player durability and redefined expectations for aging NBA superstars. But after all this time, LeBron knows the end is near and this latest slump could be a sign that he will start to slow down.
What this means for the Lakers is unclear at the moment, but without James at his best, they can kiss any hope of a championship run goodbye. LeBron was the only one keeping them together and if he cannot find his groove before too long, the Lakers could lose even more ground in the Western Conference standings.
After signing a two-year, $104 million contract with the Lakers this past summer, James is set to play through the next two seasons before hitting free agency again. After that, it seems like LeBron will call it quits and move on to the next phase of his life (owning his own NBA franchise in Las Vegas).
For now, the goal for LeBron will be to go out as a winner and that means doing whatever he can to keep their playoff dreams alive. If he can adjust his game and produce at his regular MVP level, the Lakers will be right back in play for Western supremacy. If not, things could get ugly down the stretch of the season.
The next test for LeBron and the Lakers is tomorrow, December 1st, against the Utah Jazz at 8:00 PM EST. They play the very next night in Target Center for a matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves at 8:00 PM EST. Finally, the Lakers will play the Miami Heat on December 4th at Kaseya Center, 7:30 PM EST.
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