Patryk Stachowiak
Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James is once again reminding everyone that writing him off is rarely a wise move. A slow start to the season — caused largely by sciatica and a delayed return after missing the first 14 games — sparked familiar doubts about whether James could still dominate at the highest level.
Those doubts only grew louder after one of the most jarring statistical anomalies of his career. On December 4, in a 123–120 win over the Toronto Raptors, James scored just eight points, snapping his legendary streak of 10-point games at 1,297 straight. For a 40-year-old with more than two decades of NBA mileage, it felt symbolic. To some, it looked like the beginning of the end.
That narrative gained further traction days earlier, when it took James until the fourth quarter to reach double figures against the Phoenix Suns on December 1. Social media and talking heads alike were quick to suggest that the Lakers’ cornerstone no longer had the same control over games.
A Familiar Response to Doubt
What followed, however, was vintage LeBron. Since that eight-point outing, James has flipped the conversation entirely, producing numbers firmly in the All-NBA conversation. Over that stretch, he has averaged 27.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game, while shooting an efficient 53.8% from the field.
The three-point shot hasn’t been falling consistently — he’s hitting just 30.8% from deep — but that remains the lone blemish in an otherwise dominant stretch. More than anything, it has become clear that James simply needed time to find rhythm after missing much of training camp and the preseason.
Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony drew some ridicule earlier this month for suggesting that James could still lead the league in scoring if he wanted to. While that may still be a stretch across a full season, the recent evidence shows the claim wasn’t as outlandish as it sounded.
Carrying the Lakers Through Adversity
That point was underlined in Saturday’s matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers. With four starters sidelined and Luka Dončić forced to exit early due to injury, the responsibility fell squarely on James’ shoulders. Despite the circumstances, he delivered a masterclass, pouring in 36 points on 15-of-28 shooting, alongside four rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a block.
The Lakers ultimately fell 103–88, but the final scoreline doesn’t tell the full story. James spearheaded a fourth-quarter push that cut the deficit to just seven, briefly sending a ripple of uncertainty through the Clippers. Los Angeles simply ran out of support, not leadership.
What It Means Moving Forward
For the season, James is now averaging 20.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 7.1 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game in the 2025–26 campaign. Those numbers may not jump off the page compared to his peak years, but context matters — especially when factoring in injuries, roster instability, and minutes management.
The Lakers return to action on Tuesday against the Phoenix Suns at the Mortgage Matchup Center. If Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves, Deandre Ayton, and Rui Hachimura remain sidelined, James will once again be asked to go into superhero mode to avoid back-to-back losses.
At this point, doubting his ability to answer that call feels like a mistake we’ve all seen before.
Read also: LeBron James Hails Luka Magic After Dončić’s Historic 45-Point Triple-Double