During a recent round of golf, LeBron James shared an unexpected fact: he has competed against roughly 37% of all NBA players in history.
“I saw something happen the other day that made me feel very old,” James remarked on “Bob Do Sports,” emphasizing that surprising statistic.
And the timing could not be worse for James, as the Lakers are facing some tough challenges. Not only did they lose Luka Doncic to a Grade 2 left hamstring injury during a game against the Thunder, but an MRI also showed that Austin Reeves has a Grade 2 left oblique muscle injury. Both players might be sidelined for a month or longer.
This is a harsh twist for a team that stood at 16-2 and was seen as a strong contender before Thursday’s match.
Now, it feels like the Lakers’ chances of progressing past the first playoff round have significantly diminished.
James will need to revitalize his game after leading multiple teams to the Finals.
Before learning about Reeves’ injury, he was asked how the absence of Doncic would change things for the team. He responded, “Certainly, the mindset changes a little bit,” during a practice session.
Without Reeves? That’s got to weigh heavily on James.
He had taken on a supportive role behind Doncic and Reeves last month, but now there’s a noticeable void.
Both Doncic and Reeves had been critical for the team, combining for an impressive average of 56.8 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 13.8 assists this season.
The loss of Doncic, who delivered a league-leading average of 37.5 points in March, is tough. And now, not having Reeves feels like an even harsher blow for a team that was soaring just a short while ago.
If Doncic were out, James would naturally step up as the leading force, even if Reeves were still on the court. However, Reeves’ absence as the second option leaves the Lakers in a much weaker position.
James, already experiencing a decline in his averages, is facing more pressure than ever. This season, he’s at a career low, with 20.6 points and a usage rate of 26.6.
“It’s a sacrifice. I know what I’m capable of as an individual,” he mentioned on March 12.
But now, he stands at the forefront of the team, tasked with leading them through intense playoff battles at 41 years old, a time when most players have called it a career.
With five regular-season games left, the Lakers have secured a playoff spot, but the timeline for Reeves’ recovery suggests he could miss between four to six weeks. Typically, players sit out for around 30 days with injuries similar to Doncic’s, and with the playoffs starting on April 18, caution might be the best approach for the franchise’s star players.
So, the spotlight is on James now.
That’s an immense responsibility.
Some might say it’s asking too much.
James remains an impressive player, showcasing brilliance in games recently—like scoring 30 points on 13-of-14 shooting against the Rockets. And let’s not forget his triple-double against the Heat, where he recorded 19 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists.
However, replacing the absence of key players is no small feat. James is the league’s oldest player, which adds another layer of difficulty to the situation. Ten years ago, handling such demands might have felt more manageable.
This is unfortunate on many levels. Doncic was on a path to an MVP-worthy season, and Reeves was looking like an All-Star. The Lakers were flying high.
But the impact of these injuries goes beyond the court; they could also shape James’ future plans. He has yet to decide whether to retire after this season or to play again, either with the Lakers or another team next year.
This postseason could play a pivotal role in that decision.
Now, with both Doncic and Reeves off the bench, James finds himself in a markedly different reality than just days before.
It’s disheartening.
Just like that, what seemed promising took a dark turn for this trio.
And now, it’s on James to navigate through this uncertainty alone.
