It’s hard to criticize a player averaging 21.7 points and 7.1 assists while shooting 50% in his 23rd NBA season, yet several advanced metrics indicate that LeBron James has been a net negative for the Los Angeles Lakers this year.
The 41-year-old James owns a -44 plus/minus through 38 games, the second-worst mark among all starters league-wide—trailing only Deandre Ayton at -48. Even more alarming, Lakers lineups featuring the Big 3 of James, Luka Dončić, and Austin Reaves have been outscored by 9.7 points per 100 possessions.
In contrast, the Lakers perform dramatically better when Dončić and Reaves share the floor without James, posting a +19.3 net rating. Here’s a breakdown of key lineup combinations (per NBA.com and Heavy Sports data):
| Lineups (With) | Net Rating |
|---|---|
| James / Dončić / Reaves | -9.7 |
| Dončić / Reaves (James off) | +19.3 |
| James / Dončić (Reaves off) | -3.9 |
| James / Reaves (Dončić off) | -4.2 |
| Dončić (James/Reaves off) | +4.9 |
The Lakers’ most effective five-man unit this season has been Dončić, Reaves, Marcus Smart, Rui Hachimura, and Ayton—outscoring opponents by +33 points across 11 games together. The best lineup that includes James is James, Smart, Jake LaRavia, Hachimura, and Jaxson Hayes, with a modest +7.2 net rating.
Should LeBron Come Off the Bench?
The struggles aren’t surprising: James, Dončić, and Reaves are all offense-first players with defensive limitations. When all three share the court, the Lakers post an offensive rating of just 107.7 (well below league average) and a defensive rating of 117.4—resulting in a poor AST/TO ratio of 1.78. For context, the Lakers’ season-long offensive rating is 116.0, a full 8.3 points higher when James is off the floor.
If this trend continues, head coach JJ Redick may need to consider a drastic adjustment: bringing LeBron off the bench. This would allow James to run the second unit with high-IQ playmaking while preserving offensive flow and defensive stability when Dončić and/or Reaves are resting.
Lakers Big 3: Mediocre Against Elite Competition
Lakers insiders have already floated the idea. Jovan Buha (The Athletic) noted on his podcast:
“The Lakers are 8-4 when their Big 3 play, but the four best teams they’ve played in that stretch are Spurs, Suns, Rockets, and now Celtics. They lost all four games by double digits… You could argue that having the Big 3 has actually been a big thing for the Lakers, factoring in how those lineups have performed up to this season.”
Jason Timpf (The Volume) highlighted a troubling split:
“When the Lakers play teams in the bottom 10 in points differential, they are 18-2, which is tied with Oklahoma City for the best in the league. That means they are 16-20 against the rest of the league. So they’re below .500 against anybody that’s not in the bottom third of the NBA.”
Another red flag: the Lakers are being outscored by 13.0 points per game against teams in the top 10 in points differential—ranking 28th in the league in that category.
| Opponent Tier | Record | Pts Differential |
|---|---|---|
| Bottom 10 teams | 18-2 | +11 |
| Middle 10 teams | 11-9 | -3 |
| Top 10 teams | 5-11 | -13 |
Buha added: “The Lakers have yet to be competitive with the Big 3—let alone win—against the best teams this season.”
Time for a Role Change?
Embed X: https://twitter.com/jovanbuha/status/2026090576723267934
LeBron James remains individually elite, but the data shows the current Big 3 configuration is not working against quality competition. With the Lakers sitting at 34-22 and in the top half of the West, JJ Redick faces a critical decision: stick with the status quo or make a bold move by bringing the all-time leading scorer off the bench to optimize lineup balance, stagger minutes, and maximize the team’s ceiling.
Lakers fans know the talent is there—but if the trend holds, a bench role for LeBron could be the adjustment that turns a good team into a true contender. The playoffs are approaching, and the clock is ticking on finding the right fit.