Los Angeles Lakers megastar LeBron James is in his 21st season.
At 39 years old and still dominating on a near-nightly basis. However, while his love of the game plays a significant part in why he continues to suit up every night, the main reason that James continues to compete is because he wants to win championships. Already a four-time NBA champion, James’ storied career has come closer to matching Michael Jordan’s mythos than anyone’s.
To that point, James may or may not still be vying for the title of ‘Greatest of All-Time.’ Just the other day, he was proclaiming himself to be the ‘G.O.A.T.’ while responding to his son Bryce Maximus’ trash talk.
“I’m the GOAT.” 🐐
LeBron had to make it known after Bryce’s trash talk 😂
(via @bryce_james23) pic.twitter.com/dgequq2JBL
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 19, 2024
Nonetheless, if the latest player’s poll has anything to say about it, James is still just a hair behind Jordan in most people’s minds.
So, with Lakers having their backs against the wall in the 2024 NBA Playoffs, there’s no doubt that James is feeling more than just the normal pressure that comes along with making it to the postseason. He’s feeling the pressure to be remembered as the best basketball player to grace the hardwood. He feels the stale breath of Father Time.
Draymond Green Lukewarm About Friend’s Championship Chances
This week, Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green addressed James’ championship chances on his podcast. A four-time NBA champion himself, Green expresses doubt about his friend’s ability to win a ring with the Lakers.
“With this current Lakers team, I don’t think so,” Green says of the likelihood James wins another championship.
“I think it’s going to be tough. LeBron James winning a championship at the level that he’s playing at? Absolutely.”
“But I think some things have to be retooled and figured out and not with this current team I don’t think is possible. But I don’t think it’s impossible for LeBron to win another championship.”
What’s Next for LeBron James?
L.A. has a bit of life after handily defeating the Denver Nuggets in Game 4.
However, they still face nearly insurmountable odds. No team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit in a playoff series. Notably, James also faced a 3-0 deficit against Nuggets in the 2023 Western Conference Finals. To that point, the Lakers could still advance in the 2024 NBA Playoffs, but it’s highly unlikely.
Had L.A. been more successful than susceptible throughout James’ tenure with the Lakers, the reality that they may have met their match against the Nuggets may be less apocalyptic. However, in six seasons with the Lakers, James has either missed the playoffs or been bounced from the First Round three times. Because of that, this series is less about the Nuggets having their number and more about whether James should keep donning his No. 23 jersey in Lakers purple and gold.
At this point, the answer is a resounding no.
Front Office Failures
The Lakers brass has endeavored to build a championship team around James. Yet, owner Jeanie Buss’ stubborn resistance to trading Austin Reaves could backfire. After averaging 15.9 points per game on 36.7 percent shooting from 3 in the 2023-24 regular season, Reaves is averaging 16.3 points per game on 27.3 percent shooting from 3 in the postseason. L.A. has also needed a more steady scorer than D’Angelo Russell, who’s shooting 37.9 percent from the field and 35.3 percent from 3.
If the Lakers had been willing to move Reaves to move Russell, taking back Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray, they would have three consistently reliable scorers in Murray, James, and Anthony Davis. Murray averaged 22.5 points per game on 36.3 percent shooting from 3 in 2023-24.
L.A. also provides James with little continuity from a coaching perspective. If he returns to the Lakers this offseason, there’s a solid chance that they’ll hire the fourth head coach of his tenure.
Limited in how they can re-tool the roster and yet undermined by constant turnover, the writing may already be on the wall. Indeed, L.A.’s time with James could be over as early as this week.
