LeBron James made his long-awaited return to the Los Angeles Lakers‘ lineup on Saturday night, but the occasion was far from celebratory. After weeks sidelined with a groin injury, James suited up alongside a fully healthy Lakers squad for the first time in what felt like months.
However, the result was a 146-115 dismantling at the hands of the Chicago Bulls, marking the most points the Lakers have surrendered in a game all season. And LeBron? He didn’t shy away from accountability.
“A little rusty. Little rusty, but I was happy to get back out there.”
The 40-year-old veteran, who has defied age all season, looked a step slow in his return, finishing with 17 points, six rebounds, four assists, and three steals on 43.8% shooting. His rhythm was off, the timing wasn’t there, and the defense—along with the rest of the team’s—was non-existent.
While fans were excited to finally see LeBron, Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and Rui Hachimura back together, what they got instead was a defensive collapse of epic proportions.
“We didn’t play good defense tonight. We gave up points in the paint, we gave them fast break points, and we gave them threes. So, you know, we can’t give everything, for sure.”
The Bulls torched the Lakers for 146 points on 58.3% shooting from the field and 46.3% from three. Coby White dropped 36 points, Matas Buzelis added 31, and Josh Giddey recorded a triple-double. The Lakers’ defense, which had been a strength in recent weeks, was nowhere to be found.
Doncic, though strong offensively with 34 points, was part of the problem on the other end. The team looked disconnected, struggled with communication, and had no answers for Chicago’s relentless pace. Los Angeles committed 21 turnovers, leading to 27 Bulls points—many of which came in transition.
For LeBron, the next 12 games are crucial, and he knows it.
“For sure. Obviously, we can’t take for granted the moments we get out there and are able to play the game that we love and play it at a high level. So it’s holding each other accountable, pouring into the team, pouring energy into the team.”
“So that’s what’s most important. Like you said, we’ve got 12 games to position ourselves in the postseason. We pretty much can control our own destiny. We win ball games and not have to be in the play-in.”
“So that’s what JJ has been preaching. Obviously, I think he told that to you guys. He wants to be in the playoffs and not the play-in. So that’s up to us.”
Still recovering from the groin issue that kept him out for nearly two weeks, LeBron isn’t making any bold proclamations about his health.
“I just take it day by day. I can’t worry about what’s going to happen in the future, but I got through today.”
“Obviously, I’m going to get some work on it tomorrow—hopefully a little bit on the plane—and some off flight to Orlando, and then once we get to Orlando and get ready for Monday. So, I hope it’s behind, but I don’t want to look too far in the future.”
The Lakers, currently 43-27 and fourth in the West, are three games ahead of the seventh-seeded Clippers and hoping to avoid the play-in tournament altogether. Finishing top four remains the goal—not just for the postseason security, but also to regain their identity before the playoffs begin.
LeBron’s return may not have gone as planned, but with 12 games left, the margin for error is slim. The Lakers have work to do—and it starts with getting their king back to full speed.
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