LeBron James’ clutch struggles in the final seconds of games continue to be a growing concern, as he is now 0-for-21 on game-winning or game-tying shot attempts since 2020. His latest two misses came in the Lakers’ 100-97 loss to the Charlotte Hornets, marking yet another instance where he couldn’t convert in the dying moments of a game.
Since joining the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018, LeBron has only made one such shot in his tenure—his third-ever game in a Lakers uniform against the San Antonio Spurs and is 1-29 in Purple and Gold.
Since then, he has come up short repeatedly in these situations, despite delivering several dominant fourth-quarter performances. The numbers are glaring, and they fuel an ongoing debate about whether James is the right option for these last-second attempts, especially now that Luka Doncic is on the team.
In the game against Charlotte, James was actually brilliant in the fourth quarter. He poured in 16 points on 6-for-8 shooting, including a deep three-pointer with under 10 seconds left to cut the deficit to one. That shot gave the Lakers a chance to tie the game on the final possession, and JJ Redick designed a play that allowed LeBron to take a game-tying attempt from beyond the arc.
The first shot missed, but an offensive rebound by Gabe Vincent gave James another opportunity. With time expiring, he put up another three-pointer—only for it to fall short once again.
Despite these missed opportunities, it’s important to acknowledge that James has still had his fair share of clutch performances. Over the years, he has made numerous go-ahead shots in the final minutes, including dagger three-pointers, tough layups, and critical free throws to seal victories.
Yet, when it comes to these ultra-specific situations—the last few seconds of a game with a chance to tie or win—he has struggled to replicate that same success.
The 0-for-21 stat is especially surprising considering how dominant LeBron has been in late-game situations overall. He remains one of the league’s best fourth-quarter performers, consistently elevating his game when the pressure is at its highest.
The issue seems to stem from the nature of these last-second shots—often deep threes or heavily contested attempts—rather than his overall ability to perform in crunch time.
With Luka Doncic now in Los Angeles, the Lakers might have an alternative solution for these moments. Doncic is one of the most gifted offensive players in the league and has already proven himself capable of delivering game-winning shots.
Yet, in this particular game, he was struggling, finishing with just 14 points on 5-for-18 shooting. Redick and the Lakers coaching staff likely believed that James, who had been on fire in the fourth quarter, was the better option to take the final shot.
The Lakers’ offense remains a work in progress following the midseason trade, and it’s still unclear how the team will handle clutch situations moving forward.
While LeBron’s historical struggles in the final seconds are well-documented, he still possesses the confidence and skill to take those shots. The question now is whether the Lakers should start giving Doncic those opportunities, especially if LeBron’s late-game drought continues.
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