The Los Angeles Lakers have finally lost in the 2024/25 NBA season as the Phoenix Suns beat them by four points in a 109-105 thriller at the Footprint Center as eyes turned to LeBron James‘ off-color performance.

The basketball legend could only produce 11 points, eight assists and five rebounds through 36 minutes on Monday, October 28 in Arizona as four Lakers players scored more points in the 39-year-old’s worst performance of the year.

But James tried to fight back against any scrutiny by claiming he is battling an illness and has been since Friday as he appeals for some sympathy after only going for 21.4% shooting accuracy.

“I’ve been better. You’ll hear it in my voice,” James told reporters after producing the worst shooting accuracy of his illustrious career on a night when the Lakers needed just two more two pointers to force overtime.

James offers encouragement to Lakers

The Californian side actually raced into a commanding position at the end of the first quarter with a 34-25 led before disappointingly dropping the second 25-14. They then rebounded in the third by winning 35-26 to leave them up by eight heading into the last period.

But as they seemed set to maintain their 100% start to the campaign, they dramatically collapsed and suffered the largest end-of-quarter margin of the night as the Suns won the fourth 33-22 and thus managed to claim their third win of the season.

So it was a very hit-and-miss effort for a Lakers side that had to carry James for once, and in light of that he still feels as though it was actually a pretty solid night at the office for JJ Redick‘s team.

“Even with the loss tonight,” James told reporters at the Footprint Center in Arizona. “We still did some great things.”

“There’s things we could have been better at, obviously.”