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LeBron James probably didn’t draw it up like this.
The 38-year-old is still playing at a remarkably high level and is widely regarded as one of the top players in the NBA 20 years into his career.
But he’s slowly but surely watching the years tick away on a lowly Los Angeles Lakers take that has no chance of competing for a NBA Championship.
James won his fourth Larry O’Brien Trophy in 2020 with the Lakers. But since that point, neither he nor the franchise has come anywhere close. Los Angeles lost in the first round of the playoffs the following season. The Lakers missed the playoffs entirely in 2022, and now it appears they’re headed for a similar fate in 2023.
Not even a trade for Rui Hachimura with the Washington Wizards appears capable of saving their season. The Lakers currently sit at 23-28 on the year. They have the third-worst record in the Western Conference and sit 2.5 games behind the Utah Jazz, who most presumed were tanking.
And now it appears James has finally reached his boiling point.
Lakers owner Jeanie Buss appeared on the latest episode of Stephen A. Smith’s “K(no)w Mercy” podcast to talk about the team’s struggles and James’ frustration.
“Unless he’s winning, he’s not gonna be happy. That’s him,” she said of James. “That’s what drives him and I could see why he would be frustrated.
“We’re all frustrated,” she later said. “When you know we’re down four starters and he’s our only remaining starter, he’s got to show up and play. The burden’s on him and he picks everybody up when he plays.”
James’ play, at least offensively, is still at a remarkable level. He’s averaging 30.2 points, 8.5 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game. But LA has lost three of its last four games and it doesn’t appear a win streak is coming anytime soon.
Perhaps its time for LeBron to look elsewhere as his career nears an end.