標籤: L.A

The Los Angeles Lakers are currently on an eight-game winning streak, but apparently, some people still think the team would be better off without 41-year-old LeBron James. Following Thursday night’s blowout 134-126 win over the Miami Heat, James took some time to address critics who suggest his appearance could be holding the purple and gold back.

When LeBron James was asked about the narrative, he clearly stated that such takes are usually just for clicks. “It sells papers and clippings and podcasts a lot easier than if you say, ‘LeBron, the team is better off without him.’ Many people will try to like watching it. So, I understand. They are absolutely wrong.” Looking at the figures he just presented, it’s hard to argue with him. Over the past 24 hours, James has led the Lakers to a 2-0 record while scoring a total of 49 points on an absurd 21-26 shooting from the field.

The game in Miami was especially special as James had officially tied Robert Parish for the NBA record for most games played in a regular season with 1,611. He celebrated this milestone by recording a triple-double, finishing the night with 19 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists. Head coach JJ Redick praised his star’s longevity, noting that James refused to cheat the game even in his 23rd season.

While James provided a steady hand, Luka Doncic provided the fireworks. The Slovenian superstar exploded with a season-high 60 points against the Heat, setting a new record for points by an opponent in Miami. Doncic also broke the Lakers’ single-season record for 3-pointers made during the win. With Austin Reaves scoring 18 points and holding the defense strong late, the Lakers proved they have a terrific balance of youth and veteran leadership.

The Lakers now sit at 45-25 and have moved up to third place in the Western Conference. If this is what a team looks like with a “declining” LeBron James, the rest of the league is in serious trouble.

Colin Cowherd offered a new comparison involving LeBron James and Michael Jordan during the latest episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd, discussing James’ growing offensive role with the Los Angeles Lakers.

The comments came after the Lakers’ 142-130 win over the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night, a game that showcased the team’s offensive depth with strong performances from Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.

Cowherd began the segment by revisiting his earlier predictions about the season, noting the unusual circumstances created by Doncic entering his prime while James remains a central figure in the offense.

“What’s really happened this year that has made it tough for LeBron is that Austin Reaves has popped and now LeBron has to have the ball as the third offensive option on the Lakers. So asking a guy who was the face of the NBA for 20 years, ‘Hey, we not only need you to be off the ball with Luka. [Doncic]But also Austin Reeves’. This is a great question. I don’t think Michael Jordan would have done that. I don’t think most of the all-time players are going to do that.”

Cowherd continued by emphasizing that James’ willingness to adapt reflects his focus on winning rather than individual scoring.

“And the fact is LeBron has always been about winning and he has won and I’ve defended him before when he didn’t take big shots like MJ or Kobe, and I will say he’s a winning player, he plays perfect basketball.”

“Asking a guy who was the face of the NBA for 20 years, ‘Hey, we need to be off the ball with not only Luka [Doncic]But also Austin Reeves’. This is a great question. I don’t think Michael Jordan would have done that.”

Colin Cowherd on LeBron James 👀pic.twitter.com/3m4iqLnGBj

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 13 March 2026

He ultimately concluded the segment by reiterating the difficulty of asking a player of James’ stature to transition to a tertiary offensive role.

“I think that’s a big question. I don’t think MJ would have done it, I don’t think a lot of stars who can still play at LeBron’s level individually would do it. But LeBron has always been a winning player, I think he deserves credit for committing to this kind of basketball when you can score 24 or more a night for half the teams in the league.”

Colin Cowherd’s Michael Jordan comparison highlights LeBron James’ evolving Lakers role

James’ performance Thursday reflected the Lakers’ evolving offensive structure. The 41-year-old finished with 18 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, two steals and one block, while shooting 7-for-13 from the field and 4-for-6 from the free-throw line in 33 minutes.

Doncic led the Lakers with an impressive performance, recording 51 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, while adding three steals and a block. He shot 17 for 31 from the field and made nine of his 14 attempts from three-point range in 37 minutes.

Reeves also played a key role in the win, scoring 30 points with seven assists, five rebounds and one steal, while shooting 13-for-20 from the field and 4-for-7 from three in 39 minutes.

Now in his 23rd NBA season, James is averaging 21.4 points per game – his lowest scoring average since posting 20.9 points as a rookie during the 2003–04 season. He averaged seven assists, 5.7 rebounds and 1.1 blocks while shooting 50.5 percent from the field and 31 percent from three-point range in 45 games.

The win improved the Lakers to 41–25 on the season and clinched the third seed in the Western Conference. Los Angeles will host the Denver Nuggets (41-26) on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. on ABC before beginning a six-game road trip Monday night against the Houston Rockets (40-25).

The Los Angeles Lakers finally find themselves in another tough game, this time against the Phoenix Suns. They lost their matchup earlier in the week against the Orlando Magic after a poor final game between Luka Doncic and LeBron James. Against the Suns, they had a chance to win again with the final possession, but Austin Reaves was not able to capitalize.

The Lakers have now lost five of their last seven games, and they are trying to get back on track during the second half of the season. After the game, Doncic explained what the team needs to do to get back in the win column.

“Just go game-by-game, try to win every game. Obviously, we didn’t start well [out of the All-Star break]But nothing is finished. “We just have to have the mentality of trying to win every game,” Doncic said.

“Just go game-by-game, try to win every game. Obviously we didn’t start well [out of the All-Star break]But nothing is finished. We just have to have the mentality to try to win every game” – Luka Doncic on what the Lakers, who have lost 5 of 7, need to do to get on track pic.twitter.com/Bjbd9nJutO

-Dave McMenamin (@mcten) 27 February 2026

Head coach JJ Redick offered another perspective on the recent loss, and he knows the spotlight is weighing heavily on them, just because of who they are.

“Our losses stand out more than other teams. Because we’re the Lakers — and that’s how we lose,” Redick said, via Benjamin Royer of The Orange County Register.

The Lakers have also been healthy this stretch, which perhaps makes things more disappointing for them. The last two losses are nothing to be too concerned about as they have come down to final possession, but they are games they definitely want to win.

The Lakers are now 34-24 and in sixth place in the Western Conference standings, and there is a possibility they could fall in the play-ins. There is still enough time in the season for them to work hard and register some wins so that they can secure a comfortable place in the top six.