Early Season Numbers Paint Ugly Picture About Lakers' Reliance On LeBron James

Should LA look to rest James this year?

Your Los Angeles Lakers have started their 2023-24 season 6-5, but it hasn't been a cakewalk. The team has struggled in different areas, in part due to a ton of injuries taking over the roster — but one aspect has remained the same.

Once again, the Lakers are far too reliant on star LeBron James early in the year. Entering the season, it was thought that this would be the team that would allow him to ease into things, but that hasn't been the case thus far.

With James off the floor, the Lakers have looked like a bad team. but with him on, they have looked like the team many expected them to be. Here were the numbers prior to the team's Tuesday night win over the Grizzlies, per Jovan Buha of The Athletic.

"The Lakers have been outscored by 80 points in the 175 minutes James has been off the floor. The team’s net ratings when James is on and off the floor paint a similar picture: Los Angeles is outscoring opponents by 4.4 points per 100 possessions with James in the game and is being outscored by 20.0 points per 100 possessions when he is on the bench."



Per Jovan Buha of The Athletic

Even in year 21, James is still the key to the success of whatever team he is on. We have never seen a player have so much stake over the success of a team this late into their career, and it's incredible to see.

However, this isn't sustainable in all likelihood, and the Lakers know it. Early in the year, they wanted to put him on a minute limit, but that was thrown away quicker than it was implemented. He has looked better than ever, and the Lakers are using it to their advantage right now.

"James has a burst that he hadn’t displayed since before his left foot injury last February. He’s shooting a career-high 56.7 percent from the field and a career-best 84.7 percent within three feet of the rim. He’s regained his 3-point stroke, bumping it up to 34.8 percent after he made just 32.1 percent last season."

Per Jovan Buha of The Athletic

The team is going to need others to step up as the long season goes on. They need James healthy for the postseason, and we have already seen him miss a game due to injury this year.

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