When LeBron James sat out the first few weeks of the 2025-26 season, a narrative began in the NBA that the Lakers are better off without him. Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves were flying, and when the King returned after recovering from sciatica, he took time to get settled. That, in some ways, affected the team’s offense.
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Fast forward to this month, and the Lakers have won eight in a row and 11 of their last 12 games. LeBron was absent in some of those games. So, is James really surplus to the Lakers’ needs?
While many have said no to this notion, James himself has come ahead to defend his importance in the team. The King reminded once again, the way he has many times over the years, that smearing him is good for business.
James has adapted well to his role as a support player for Doncic and, at times, for Reaves as well. At 41, doing that and still averaging 21 ppg is insane. James knows that. He just wishes the rest of the world saw it that way, too.
“It sells papers a lot easier, and clippings and podcasts. If you say, ‘LeBron, the team is better off without him.’ A lot of people will try to like it. So, I get it,” James said after the Lakers’ win over the Miami Heat on Thursday.
The purple and gold won 134-126, with Doncic erupting for 60 points. James scored 19 points and recorded 15 rebounds. It was a perfect win that refuted the claim from some analysts that the Lakers aren’t contenders.
James will play a crucial role in the post-season, too, using his wealth of experience to aid Doncic and Co. to get over the line. For those who doubt him, James had a message. “They’re absolutely wrong.”
Objectively speaking, the narrative isn’t backed up with stats either. With James in the lineup, the Lakers are 29-18. Without him? 14-7. So, the record is not all that different.
JJ Redick was asked about this narrative around the time of LBJ’s elbow and hip contusion, which kept him out for a few games recently. Redick, in his reply, highlighted what drives LeBron, while also admitting that there is a sort of ‘established hierarchy’ when it’s just Luka and Reaves manning the offense.
“There’s a clear pecking order when Luka and AR are on the floor together with guys that are low usage players. I know LeBron, he recognizes the importance of having Luka as the engine. All he really wants is to impact winning,” said Redick.
The bottom line is that James remains crucial to the Lakers despite his age. And the franchise knows that well. He’s not the main man anymore, and that’s fine. But this version of James is still more dangerous than 90% of the players in the NBA.
