The Los Angeles Lakers secured a much-needed 116-110 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday, boosted by a dominant 40-point performance from Anthony Davis and the return of LeBron James.
This win was essential for the Lakers, who have been struggling with a 4-6 record in their last ten games, including two blowout losses to the Nuggets and Wolves, and a crushing 41-point defeat to the Heat.
Deron Williams builds the perfect NBA player: From Curry’s shooting to LeBron’s leadership
Deron Williams builds the perfect NBA player: From Curry’s shooting to LeBron’s leadership
LeBron‘s absence from the team for personal reasons came after another tough loss to the Wolves. He returned after eight days off, with a focus on regaining his fitness.
“A lot of rehab and a lot of training still,” LeBron explained in a clip shared by ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
“I made sure that I was ready to go tonight… didn’t want to get too much out of shape.”
LeBron’s return helped the Lakers
In his return, LeBron and the Lakers displayed a renewed intensity on both ends of the floor. New starter Max Christie impressed on defense, particularly limiting Ja Morant to just 20 points on 6-of-21 shooting. However, while the Lakers‘ defense showed promise, LeBron‘s individual struggles continue to raise concerns for the team.
Despite his age and lingering injuries, LeBron is still playing at a high level, but his performance this season has been inconsistent. He’s struggled significantly with his shooting, most notably going 0-9 against the Jazz and shooting just 11.8% from three-point range (4-34) before turning things around with a 6-of-11 shooting display from beyond the arc in a loss to the Hawks. Additionally, LeBron has committed 66 turnovers over the last 13 games, his highest turnover rate since joining the Lakers in 2018.
Part of the issue could be attributed to his ongoing foot injury, which led him to step away from the team temporarily to recover. This season, he’s averaging only 23.0 points on 49.5% shooting, along with 9.1 assists and 8.0 rebounds per game. While these are solid numbers, they represent a noticeable dip in his overall production.
With LeBron‘s decline evident and the pressure mounting on Davis to carry the team, it’s clear that the Lakers‘ front office needs to make moves. GM Rob Pelinka‘s offseason decisions have not been enough to elevate the team to title contention, and with LeBron‘s window rapidly closing, the front office must be proactive in acquiring additional talent.
