Since LeBron James recently made his long-awaited return to the Los Angeles Lakers after a fierce, months-long battle with sciatica. As the season unfolds, James carries with him certain expectations for his teammates and a unique process he follows every year. His fragility and overall ability to play at an All-Star level in the future is now in question. At 40 years old, he has to deal with the physical rigors of a grueling NBA schedule.
In his return game against the Utah Jazz, James put on a show, pouring in 11 points of sheer dominance. He recorded 12 assists, bravely foreshadowing his burgeoning chemistry with brand new running buddy Deandre Ayton. Sure, it was James who made headlines by shooting 2-for-3 from beyond the arc. Unsurprisingly, with this tremendous performance he passed Reggie Miller to take sixth place on the all-time three-pointers list. Last season, he had a three-point shooting percentage of 37.6%. In doing so, he’s increased his percentage to a career-high 41% this season!
As he returns to the lineup, James isn’t just re-acclimating to his own team — he’s redefining his role. Lakers head coach, JJ Redick, sees James’ return as a chance to try different lineup configurations.
Expectations and Chemistry
If the Los Angeles Lakers want to return to championship contention this season, superstar LeBron James has laid down some strict guidance for his compatriates. Per Fletcher, most importantly, winning will eventually decide how players react to their shot attempts over the course of the games.
“It’s going to be really telling if guys [are] still upset about the shot attempts if you’re winning,” – a team source
James understands that his teammates need to change. The potent chemistry between Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves has been another ingredient.
“It’s tough because Luka and Reaves have good chemistry now, and they’ve gotten used to doing it one way, and then you bring in another guy that needs the ball and dominates the ball,” – Coach Doc Rivers
Balancing between these two needs will be critical for James to maximize the talents of his teammates while putting their best foot forward. However impressive James’s talents are, there are signs that the four-time MVP isn’t the best player on his team—with obvious ’cause.
“He’s, in my opinion, the greatest player to ever touch a basketball,” – Austin Reaves
James acknowledges this shift in dynamics and is prepared to adapt his game for the greater good of the Lakers.
Reinventing Himself
James is making his way back to competitive play. He needs to contend with a very different set of challenges that will likely require him to fundamentally reinvent himself. The other aspect is the physical toll of what has become a grueling NBA season, and whether his body can hold up to the wear and tear.
James’ usage rate has to go down some as he cedes ball-handling duties to younger players and new additions like Ayton. This may mean him attempting fewer shots a game than he has historically, which would be a departure.
“The role players, where do you think the shots are going to come from? LeBron’s going to take 15 shots a game,” – a team source
Additionally, it’s no coincidence that experts think Ayton is poised to see the greatest return with LeBron on the floor. As an Eastern Conference executive once told me, “When you have a guy like LeBron, don’t underestimate his ability to make everyone better.”
“LeBron makes people look good. [He’ll feed Ayton] lobs and dump-offs at the rim,” – an Eastern Conference executive
As he navigates this changing environment, James needs to put collaboration first. Second, he has to adjust how he plays to suit his new teammates’ strengths and weaknesses.
Challenges Ahead
While LeBron James culminates this new frontier with the Lakers, it’s a new chapter that comes with built-in challenges that he’ll need to overcome. After making his recent comeback from injury, it’s still unsure if he can consistently perform at an elite level over a grueling 82-game season.
On this particular front, despite these challenges, hope abounds over his return. Many insiders believe he can still compete at an elite level. His outside shooting has been noted as an aspect that was missed during his absence, and with improvements evident this season, his contributions could be crucial for the team’s success.
“Ayton should benefit the most out of LeBron back,” – an Eastern Conference executive
It’s James’ basketball IQ that’ll be most important for how he goes about tackling this unique season. He had a genius-level comprehension of the game, in the words of one former long-time front office executive.
“He sees things that other people can’t,” – Luka Doncic
James is still determined to help his teammates any way he can.
“What’s wrong with these people? I can ride with anybody,” – LeBron James
Now, his presence on the court will multiply Ayton’s growth. This will foster a collaborative team environment.
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