From a team perspective, the loss absorbed by LeBron James and the LA Lakers on Monday was a momentum-stopper at a crucial point of the season. However, James himself was also on the wrong end of history as he went scoreless in the first half for just the third time in his storied career.
After the game, James and his head coach JJ Redick commented on the four-time NBA champion’s halftime stat line of zero points (0-for-5 from the field), four rebounds, and six assists.
“That’s the role that I’m playing for the ballclub. In order for us to win ballgames, that’s the role that I’m playing. That’s just how the game is going,” James told reporters.
“”I feel like he played a really unselfish game, ended up with 10 assists. We missed him a couple times on early seals,” Redick added.
While LeBron James’ final numbers in this 113-110 loss were still solid (12 points on 4-for-10 FG shooting, nine rebounds, 10 assists), it’s notable that he was a -8 on the plus/minus column, the lowest among the Lakers’ starters. Meanwhile, the young tandem of Luka Doncic (32 points, seven rebounds, six assists) and Austin Reaves (24 points on a 46.7% shooting clip) continued to wax hot, as they’d done so over the Lakers’ nine-game winning streak.
Now, that streak is over thanks to a three-point loss at the hands of a Pistons squad missing Cade Cunningham. It’s not a stretch to say that an additional bucket or two from James (who was averaging 21.1 points per game heading into Monday night) could have overturned that outcome.
Report: LeBron James Might Have to Take Pay Cut if He Wants to Play 24th Season
Prior to the Lakers-Pistons game, ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reported that LeBron James might have to take a pay cut if he wants to continue playing in the NBA next season.
“The sense I have is that this idea of playing for $50M anywhere is probably gone,” Shelburne said on “NBA Today.”
LBJ, of course, has been one of the best-paid NBA superstars of his generation. This report is another sign that massive changes could be on the horizon for the four-time NBA champion.
