All articles tagged with #lebron james
LA lost 110-109 to Orlando after a late inbound where Luka Doncic, doubled, passed to LeBron James for a turnaround that missed; Doncic said he should have attacked instead of dribbling, and James said Doncic had an open look but balance and defense disrupted the shot. The defeat leaves the Lakers 34-23 and two games ahead of the Suns, with next tests against Phoenix and Golden State.
LeBron James is in a February shooting slump, hitting just 21.1% from three on 4.8 attempts per game (about 28% of his shots) and posting a team-low 109.0 offensive rating with a -2.1 net rating, yet the Lakers are 5-3 with him active; some observers suggest LeBron should seek more scoring opportunities elsewhere or adjust his shot selection to avoid derailing the season, especially as his 2025-26 three-point percentage sits at 30.3% on 4.6 attempts, well below last season’s 37.6% and his catch-and-shoot efficiency (42.0% in 2024-25). With 26 games left and a likely summer roster reshaping, balancing LeBron’s offense could determine the Lakers’ playoff chances after back-to-back early exits with Doncic’s era.
LA’s tight loss to Orlando drew mixed grades: LeBron James opened hot but faded, Deandre Ayton posted a 21-point, 13-rebound double-double, Austin Reaves struggled to find his rhythm before a late surge, and Luka Dončić provided playmaking with inefficient shooting, underscoring an uneven Lakers night despite clutch-game optimism.
Following the Lakers' 111-89 setback to the Celtics, LeBron James said his relationship with Jaylen Brown is largely respectful and brushed off a past jab at Bronny, while praising Brown’s recent play and noting MVP chatter around him; Brown put up 32 points, eight rebounds and seven assists as Boston completed the season sweep.
The Lakers were routed by Boston at home, receiving blunt, failing grades across the roster with LeBron and other stars underwhelming; Austin Reaves offered a modest bright spot, but the overall effort was criticized as a disappointing display and a reminder of the gap the Celtics showed on this night.
After a well-received All-Star Weekend, Adam Silver signaled that the league will study fresh fixes to curb tanking—considering options like removing draft protections and barring top-four picks—though no quick solution is promised. The piece also notes strong All-Star Game viewership, ongoing questions about Jayson Tatum’s return, and tributes to Chris Paul’s retirement from players who reflected on his impact.
LeBron James’s future is unsettled and the Cavaliers are a real option, but cap reality looms: to offer more than a minimum without triggering the league’s apron constraints, Cleveland would need to shed salary (e.g., Max Strus or Dennis Schröder) or pursue a sign-and-trade to stay under the second apron (and possibly the first). Donovan Mitchell has signaled willingness to team with LeBron, but the Cavs would have to make substantial financial moves for a reunion, leaving the decision to how much LeBron is willing to sacrifice financially for one final title run in Cleveland.
Anthony Edwards powered the USA Stars to a 47-21 victory over the USA Stripes in the NBA All-Star Game final at Intuit Dome, earning MVP after a three-game mini-tournament format that included Stars beating World in overtime in the opener (Scottie Barnes delivered the OT winner) and the Stripes taking the second game on De'Aaron Fox’s buzzer-beater; Kawhi Leonard carried the Stripes with 31 points in the finale, but Edwards capped the night with a late tying 3 to seal the title.
At All-Star Sunday, LeBron James reflected on his journey and his camaraderie with Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant, while weighing the Lakers’ uncertain rest-of-season prospects amid injuries and new pieces like Luke Kennard, and remained noncommittal about his 2026/27 future as he emphasizes health and chemistry to shape the team's playoff push.
LeBron James powered a strong third-quarter rally for the Lakers, but the Thunder pulled away in the fourth as L.A. couldn’t close the gap; the article runs through player grades, highlighting LeBron and Rui Hachimura as positives while Austin Reaves battled defensive pressure and turnover issues in a night that ended in a Lakers loss.
In a star-drought affair, the Lakers held off a depleted Warriors squad with LeBron James struggling early but the Lakers getting a strong contribution from Austin Reaves on restricted minutes, plus efficient scoring from Rui Hachimura and solid shows from Vanderbilt and Kennard as they earned a win and mixed player grades across the roster.
Austin Reaves exploded for 35 points to spark the Lakers’ rally and seal a win over the Sixers, as Los Angeles overcame a sluggish start and a rough night from LeBron James and with Luka Dončić exiting early due to injury; multiple teammates contributed in a chaotic finish, with Reaves delivering clutch plays late to lift the Lakers.
LeBron James is viewed as a logical free-agent target for the Cavaliers this off-season if he continues his NBA career, with reports that he’d take a substantial pay cut to join a championship contender. Cleveland’s revamped lineup—featuring Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and newly acquired James Harden—could make a return appealing, though James is expected to stay with the Lakers beyond the trade deadline and remains under his no-trade clause.
LeBron James led the Lakers to a decisive win over the Nets, delivering 25 points in a dominant first half for an A+ grade. Luka Dončić also earned an A+ for 24 points, while Austin Reaves returned with 15 points in 21 minutes (B). Jaxson Hayes shined off the bench (A), LaRavia started strong with 18 points (B+), and Hachimura (C), Vanderbilt (C), and Vincent (F) had mixed nights as L.A. cruised; Reaves’ return was the key storyline in this graded win.
LeBron James scored 25 points as the Lakers routed the Nets 125-109 at Barclays Center, a performance that underscored Brooklyn’s rough season and potential last New York appearance for James; Brooklyn, plagued by blowouts this season, were hurt by 20 turnovers and a late, albeit insufficient, rally after falling behind by as many as 39, while Michael Porter Jr. led Brooklyn with 21 points and 10 rebounds but went 0-for-9 from three, and Day’Ron Sharpe added 19 points and 14 rebounds off the bench as Ziaire Williams returned with 17.