Do you buy or sell LeBron James’ commitment to the Los Angeles Lakers?
At this point in the season, with 20-some odd games remaining in the regular season, it’s difficult to believe that there’s any magic left for the Los Angeles Lakers. They look old, are injured, and LeBron James is beginning to see the early stages of Father Time enter his career.
But it’s not LeBron’s play that has been infiltrated by Father Time, it’s been everything around his play.
One of LeBron’s best attributes – really the one that separated him from simply a great player to a generational one – was his ability to elevate the players around him every time he was on the floor. It didn’t matter who was playing with him, as long as LeBron was feeding you the ball it seemed as if you played your best basketball with LeBron.
Slowly, that has begun to change. We haven’t seen that this season at all.
LeBron, at the ripe age of 37, is averaging 29 points, eight rebounds, and six assists per game but he has failed to elevate the teammates around him. Which, I believe, is the first sign of Father Time barring down on LeBron.
LeBron is still playing at an elite level this season and it’s almost as if it hasn’t even mattered. The Lakers are 27-33 and 9th in the Western Conference standings. As is almost always the case when LeBron is on a struggling team, whispers have begun to grow of his displeasure and the possibility of his exit from Los Angeles.
Though, LeBron quickly did what he could to quiet those whispers down by publically recommitting to the Lakers organization.
Question is, can we believe him? Are you buying or selling LeBron’s commitment to the Lakers heading into the offseason (after what we can only expect to be an early playoff exit if they even get there)?