By all accounts, LeBron James is having a heck of a season. His traditional and advanced numbers are by far his best since he joined the Lakers in 2018. And he’s burning rubber at a rate last seen when he was still with the Cavaliers. Forget that he’s 37 — or, rather, an old 37, given the miles on his odometer. He doesn’t mind; in fact, he relishes the challenge, even if a cacophony of injuries have dented his reputation as an iron man who can be counted on to produce on the court night in and night out. There’s just one problem, though: His exertions haven’t translated to wins.
Considering how much influence James has wielded behind the scenes, the Lakers’ current plight — ninth in Western Conference standings and embarrassed owners of a swoon that had them absorbing 11 of the last 14 games prior to yesterday’s homestand — cannot, but partly be attributed to him. He was the one who pushed for the trade that gutted the roster of the purple and gold in order to bring polarizing Russell Westbrook to the fold. He had grand intentions, no doubt buoyed by the prospect of adding a former Most Valuable Player awardee to the mix. Unfortunately, the results have been nothing short of disappointing, and for predictable reasons.
The cliché about the bird in the hand beating the two in the bush most certainly applies to the Lakers. Had they not been blinded by intriguing possibilities more fit for fantasy hoops, they would have done well to surround James with shooters, a tried-and-tested formula that maximizes his otherworldly skills as a playmaker. Instead, they’re stuck with a virtual fugazi who needs the ball to thrive, if inefficiently. And all and sundry know in whose hands the ball should be as much as possible. In other words, the prized acquisition has proven to be an unnecessary spare tire at best.
That said, James has been leaving nothing in the tank whenever he shows up, if for no other reason than because his best is required for the Lakers to at least have a chance to win. With 2020 championship stalwart Anthony Davis sidelined indefinitely and Westbrook a bust (also indefinitely), nothing less than a showcase of his talents, fortitude, and no small measure of luck will do. Yesterday, for instance, he needed to go in beast mode to upend the heavily favored Warriors. And, at the buzzer, his line of 56 (on 31 shots), 10, three, and one said it all.
How long James can continue on overdrive, only he knows. He has brushed off suggestions that he shut down his season, insisting that there is more than enough time for the Lakers to recover. Perhaps he’s right. Perhaps Davis is able to return and they make a deep run after surviving the play-in tournament. Until then, he’s determined to hold the fort — his way of owning up to the past, and his way of owning the future.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and Human Resources management, corporate communications, and business development.