LOS ANGELES, CA – Imagine you’re LeBron James.
You’re arguably the greatest player of all time. You’ve been the face of the league since you were 18 years old. You’re the only player in NBA history to reach Season 23, and you’re still capable of leading an offense, dominating a game, and posting triple-doubles on any given night.
Now imagine being asked to be the third option.
LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket against the Denver Nuggets.
That’s exactly what’s happening in Los Angeles. And the most remarkable part? LeBron James is embracing it with grace, humility, and a singular focus on winning.
The New Pecking Order
The Lakers have won five straight games and eight of their last nine. They’re rolling. And the formula is simple: Luka Dončić is the No. 1 option, Austin Reaves is the No. 2, and LeBron James—the King himself—has willingly stepped into the No. 3 role.
This is unprecedented.
Think about it. Michael Jordan was the No. 1 option for the Wizards when he retired in 2003. Kobe Bryant was the No. 1 option for the Lakers when he retired in 2016. Do you think either of them would have been okay with playing behind two other players?
LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks the ball.
No chance.
Tim Duncan, Shaquille O’Neal, Carmelo Anthony—all saw their athleticism decline to the point where they could no longer be the top option as they aged. But James? He’s still capable of superstar production. He’s averaging 21.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 7 assists this season. He’s shooting a career-low 15.8 field goals per game—not because he can’t score, but because he’s choosing not to.
The Conversation That Changed Everything
This didn’t happen overnight. Early in the season, when James missed the first 14 games with sciatica, the Lakers started 15-4. When he returned, the offense felt stilted. James, Dončić, and Reaves shared the court just 11 times before the All-Star break, and the results were underwhelming. Reaves’ aggressiveness disappeared. The Big Three stunk. The Lakers were losing.
Something had to give.
During a three-game winning streak against the Pacers, Knicks, and Timberwolves—while James was sidelined with foot arthritis and a hip contusion—the narrative shifted. Pundits began asking: are the Lakers better without LeBron?
That narrative was always untrue. But it sparked a conversation between James and head coach JJ Redick. Roles needed to change. And it had to start with James embracing a supporting role behind Dončić and Reaves.
The New LeBron
LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots the ball.
Since returning, James has been a different player. Not in ability—he’s still LeBron. But in approach.
In Thursday’s 142-130 win over the Bulls, James had a quietly efficient 18 points on 7-for-13 shooting, seven rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and a block. He was the fourth-leading scorer behind Dončić (51 points), Reaves (30 points), and Deandre Ayton (23 points). Fourth.
In Saturday’s 127-125 overtime thriller against the Nuggets, James finished with 17 points, six rebounds, five assists, and two steals. Modest numbers by his standards. But in crunch time, he was attacking the lane, drawing defenders, and dishing to teammates. He was the ultimate decoy—6-foot-9, 250 pounds of pure gravity.
The result? Reaves led the team with 32 points. Dončić had a triple-double: 30 points, 11 rebounds, 13 assists. The offense flowed. The Big Three looked unstoppable.
The Superman Dive
If you need a single image to define this new era of LeBron James, look no further than Saturday’s game. With less than a minute left, James launched himself full extension—Superman style—diving for a loose ball.
“He has all these records and whatever and he’s been to the Finals a billion times,” Reaves said afterward. “But at the end of the day, he’s a winner and he wants to do what he can to help our team win the game. And that was one of the biggest plays of the game.”
That’s the definition of sacrifice. A player who has nothing left to prove, diving on the floor like a rookie fighting for a roster spot.
LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers in a yellow jersey looks on during the game.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Since the All-Star break, the Lakers are fifth in offensive rating, 12th in defensive rating, and the Big Three has a net rating of +12.6. They’re 42-25, third in the Western Conference, and suddenly looking like legitimate contenders.
The narrative has flipped completely. No one is asking if the Lakers are better without LeBron anymore. Now they’re asking: can anyone beat them?
The Historic Context
What James is doing might be unprecedented. The closest comparison is Wilt Chamberlain, who shifted to more of a passing role later in his career when he still could’ve dominated as a scorer. But even Wilt wasn’t asked to be the third option on a championship contender.
James is. And he’s thriving.
“The team is most important,” James said after the Bulls win. “Everybody’s successful when we win. So yeah, it is a sacrifice. I know what I’m capable of still doing as an individual. But what’s important for this team? I’m able to adapt to what’s important for this team. And that’s the only thing that matters.”
The Redick Factor
Head coach JJ Redick has been instrumental in this transformation. After the conversation during James’ injury absence, Redick has orchestrated an offense that maximizes all three stars while asking James to do the dirty work.
“It speaks a lot to just how much he cares about this team and his teammates,” Redick said. “And how much he wants to win.”
The Bottom Line
LeBron James could still be dominating games. He’s capable of triple-doubles. He can be the best player on the court on any given night. But he’s choosing to operate in the shadows, to defer, to sacrifice.
In a career full of awe-inspiring moments—the chase-down blocks, the buzzer-beaters, the Finals MVPs—this willingness to step back might be one of the most remarkable things he’s ever done.
And it’s changing the Lakers’ ceiling.
The King has accepted his new role. Long live the King.