Lakers are dead in the water but there’s a silver lining: LeBron James

There’s a silver lining to the Lakers’ hellish turn of events. 

LeBron James has been unleashed. 

The King has been let out of his so-called cage. He has gone from being the team’s third option to the head of the snake. We’re getting to see what the 41-year-old is actually capable of doing at this stage in his career. 

And it’s stunning to witness. 

Things around the Lakers’ locker room are depressing. They have an emotional hangover from losing Luka Doncic (strained hamstring) and Austin Reaves (strained oblique) last week to injuries. Some of the guys on the court need name tags to be recognized. The team’s hopes of a deep playoff run are dead in the water. 

But the Lakers are still a must-watch show.

And it’s because of James. What he’s doing is unprecedented. He’s redefining what’s possible. 

On Friday, he helped the Lakers clinch homecourt advantage as either the third or fourth seed in the first round of the playoffs with a 101-73 win over the Suns.

James, who was playing on the second night of a back-to-back, finished with 28 points (10-for-16 shooting from the field, 2-for-2 from beyond the arc), 12 assists and 6 rebounds. 

The night before?

He had 26 points on 11-for-17 shooting, 11 assists and 8 rebounds in the Lakers’ 119-103 win over the Warriors.

Can we just take a moment to appreciate the absurdity of that.

James is the only player in NBA history to play in his 23rd season. Last month, pundits were proclaiming the Lakers were better without him. Byron Scott said in February on a local radio show that James should leave the team after this season.

The James slander was at an all-time high — and that’s really saying something.  

James responded by becoming the team’s third option after he returned from a three-game absence at the top of March. He decided to plug in the holes behind Doncic and Reaves, who were shining together. Arguably the greatest player of all-time embraced being a role player. 

His sacrifice is even more impressive now after seeing what he’s capable of doing. 

Over the last three games without Doncic and Reaves, James has averaged 28 points (60% shooting from the field and 46% shooting from beyond the arc), 12.7 assists and 7.7 rebounds. Before that stretch, he had averaged 17.5 points since becoming LA’s third option. 

It’s a mind-blowing transformation. He can turn on the faucet with such ease. He still has it.

On any given night, he’s capable of being the best player on the court.

“I had to tap back into a role that I’ve been accustomed to in the past, but obviously it wasn’t what it was this year,” James said. “But circumstances have put me back in there and I’m just trying to feed off my teammates, teammates are feeding off of me, and just trying to make things happen for us to continue to stay afloat.”

James has given the Lakers a reason to still play. He has given them motivation. Inspiration.

Just a few days ago, Lakers coach JJ Redick bemoaned that he needed to find nine players who were still willing to fight after the team’s 36-point loss to the Thunder on Tuesday, in which James was sidelined because of left foot injury management. 

After that route, the team held a meeting.

James made an impression.  

“In the meeting, in the walkthrough [Thursday] morning just the way he carried himself, just he really set the tone for the team,” Redick said. “Guys followed that.”

If arguably the greatest player of all-time is still pouring himself into the game, how can his teammates not follow suit?

James isn’t giving up. He’s doubling-down. He’s roaring. 

It has led to some changes.

Deandre Ayton has started playing harder. Luke Kennard has shined, transforming from being a 3-point specialist into a point guard. Marcus Smart returned Friday from an eight-game absence because of a right ankle contusion, infusing the team with some life on the defensive end.

The Lakers are lost in the wilderness. But they’re willing to follow James.

It’s no secret that the Lakers are being looked at as easy prey heading into the postseason. “I’m sure everybody wants to play us,” Redick said.

But Kennard cautioned that because of James, things aren’t quite so clear cut.

“I guess you understand why people are saying that,” said Kennard, who had 19 points, 3 assists and 3 steals. “You’re missing 60 points a game. …But we also have [LeBron James] and the way he has been playing and leading us has been incredible.”

James carried the Lakers past the Warriors without Steph Curry and the Suns without Devin Booker. Regardless of how magnificent he’s playing, it’s hard to imagine he can get LA past the first round of the playoffs against a team that isn’t resting its stars, biding enough time for Doncic or Reaves to return.

But he’s still giving this his all.

No one would blame the Lakers if they rolled over after last week’s gutting turnaround. And no one would blame James if he threw his hands in the air now that he’s alongside a bunch of role players and G Leaguers.

But instead, he’s showing heart and everyone else is following.

He’s reminding us all that his greatness hasn’t waned. 

If anything, it may be more notable now than ever. 

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