Should 4-Time NBA Champion Consider Being a Third Option for the Lakers?
The Los Angeles Lakers are on a roll in the 2025 NBA season, with a 6-2 record going into tonight's home matchup at 10:00 p.m. EST against the San Antonio Spurs. The purple and gold have been firing on all cylinders, with contributions coming from across the roster, with many players off the bench stepping up in big games. A key example of this was in the Lakers’ latest win against the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday. Without their star players, many bench players stepped up in big moments, proving they can provide valuable minutes on an NBA court. Apart from that game, star players Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves have led the show, with Dončić averaging 41 points, 11.5 rebounds, and eight assists per game, and Reaves averaging 31 points and nine assists per game. Both of these players have been having a great start to the season, and with LeBron James being sidelined for the first time in his near 23 year NBA career, he may need to fall back and be the third scoring option for the Lakers when he returns.
King James will be turning 41 years old in December, and there is a lot of buzz about his future NBA career plans after the season. He has been sidelined with sciatica and is expected to make his season debut sometime in mid-November. Last season James averaged 24.4 points per game, his lowest scoring mark since his rookie year and the first time he’s dipped below 25 points. We have seen LBJ with more minutes restrictions and him sitting out with injuries lately, and as he ages, it is essential for him to take care of his body if he wants to continue playing in hopes of his fifth NBA Championship.
Over the past few weeks, with Dončić and Reaves playing some of the best basketball we have seen, taking the ball out of their hands is a mistake. Last year with the Lakers, James was primarily the second leading scorer, even with Anthony Davis on the team before the trade for Luka. AR-15 averages 31 points as the second option and does a fantastic job not only scoring the ball but facilitating it. Without Dončić on the floor, Reaves should continue to receive more on-ball opportunities, and LeBron should not interfere with the stellar play he has had this year. Even though James is one of the greatest NBA players of all time, it is time for him to step back as the third scoring option for this Los Angeles Lakers team. With Dončić and Reaves’ scoring, LeBron’s workload with the ball will allow him to maintain his health, as he does not need to worry about getting the ball and making a play every time, which is what he has been used to doing throughout his 20 year career.
