The Los Angeles Lakers hit a bump in the road to start their 2024 campaign, falling to the Phoenix Suns in a nail-biting rematch that kept fans on the edge of their seats. But while the game was a classic back-and-forth battle, all eyes were on LeBron James—who delivered a performance many would rather forget. Scoring just 11 points on 3-of-14 shooting, James recorded his worst shooting percentage (21.4%) in a regular-season game since 2007, a stat that has Laker Nation buzzing with concern.
James’ struggle was clear from the start. Despite choosing his shots carefully, they just wouldn’t drop, leaving fans stunned as he posted his lowest field-goal percentage in 17 years. He managed two three-pointers on five attempts and went 3-of-6 from the charity stripe, with eight assists softening the blow. But his overall impact was limited, reflected in a box plus/minus of -17—a startling figure for the four-time NBA champion and the second negative box score in just four games this season.
So, what’s going on with the Lakers’ superstar? Part of it seems intentional: James has visibly scaled back his shot attempts this season. With Anthony Davis embracing his role as the primary scorer, and newcomer J.J. Redick helping spread the offense, the Lakers are strategically allowing James to conserve energy, especially in the early minutes. It’s a sound plan on paper, but the Lakers have always counted on LeBron’s precision scoring to keep their offense efficient.
In fact, the game against Phoenix showed exactly what can go wrong when James isn’t firing on all cylinders. Even with Davis stepping up, a cold night from LeBron leaves a noticeable void that no one else on the roster can fill quite like him.
This season, the Lakers’ success may hinge on whether James can strike a balance between conserving energy and maintaining his famously efficient scoring. If his shots don’t start falling, or if he continues to hold back too much, the Lakers could be in for a rocky ride.
For now, Lakers fans are holding their breath, hoping LeBron’s struggles were just a one-night fluke. But with the Western Conference as stacked as ever, the margin for error is slim, and Los Angeles will need a sharp, efficient LeBron James to stay competitive in the race to the playoffs.
