As LeBron James Struggles, Lakers—and NBA—Face Murky Future

No one in NBA history has battled Father Time better than LeBron James. But those paying close attention are starting to see James lose his grip in the fight—and it could be detrimental to the future of the Lakers and the overall NBA business.

On paper, James, who turns 40 on Dec. 30, is still putting up good counting stats. His 22 points per game are his lowest since his rookie season, but he’s averaging eight rebounds and 9.1 assists, the second most in his career. However, as The Athletic’s Fred Katz pointed out, the Lakers, who have a 12–9 record, good for No. 8 in a loaded Western Conference, are 21 points per 100 possessions worse when he’s on the court. 

James—who entered this season as the only player in NBA history with more than $400 million in career earnings—is also struggling with his three-point shot as he’s missed his last 19 attempts from beyond the arc, his longest streak since the 2003–2004 season, according to ESPN. 

A Blow for the NBA

Whether James is battling for a championship, he is still one of basketball’s biggest draws. So it was a blessing for the league when he declared at the beginning of the season that his goal was to play all 82 games.

However, Lakers coach JJ Redick hinted at how the season may be taking a toll on the four-time MVP following a loss to the Timberwolves on Monday after a back-to-back, saying it may not be in James’s or the team’s “best interest” for him to play all 82 games. James, who scored a season-low 10 points, also didn’t seem as certain about his goal following the loss.

“That’s a goal, but we’ll see,” James said.

If James were to consistently rest through the remainder of the year, it could be a blow to the league that’s already struggling to pull viewers to open the season, particularly because the Lakers entered the season with the most nationally televised games among any team, and still have 20 remaining. 

The Lakers could end up at risk of violating the NBA’s player participation policy if James rests. The league has not been shy to send $100,000 fines this season to teams for players failing to play when they are eligible. The 76ers and Hawks are two examples of resting Joel Embiid and Trae Young, respectively.

The Lakers’ Future

Months before James led the Lakers to the 2020 NBA championship, he said he wanted to “be a Laker for the rest of my life.” The Lakers have not made the Finals since 2020—but James’s actions show he’s committed to the team, especially after they selected his son, Bronny, in the 2024 draft.

But the uncertainty of the future of James, who has consistently signed one-plus-one contracts with the Lakers, which are two-year deals with a player option for year two, provides a hamper on a team trying to build a roster—especially if the player paid 35% of the salary cap is deteriorating.

The Lakers may choose loyalty above all else—akin to how they rode out the tail end of Kobe Bryant’s career when the team missed the playoffs for three straight years. James’s stature as one of the greatest players of all time certainly helps the iconic franchise maintain its spot as the third-most-valuable team in the league, worth more than $7 billion, per Forbes.