The Los Angeles Lakers are still trying to find a way to integrate LeBron James back into the lineup. James missed the first month of the season with sciatica. In that stretch, the Lakers were still able to play really good basketball.
Now, James has returned to the lineup. He has played six games so far this season and has struggled. His numbers have taken a massive dive from what they were a year ago. This has fully turned into Luka Doncic’s team. Austin Reaves is playing like the second-best player on the team.
Coming into a game against the Raptors, James had scored in double digits an NBA-record 1,297 straight games. That incredible streak ended against Toronto because of a selfless play by James in order for the Lakers to get a win.
GettyLeBron James shoots the ball. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Lakers’ LeBron James’ Double Digit Scoring Streak Ends
At the end of the game, it was tied at 120. Instead of taking the game-winning shot, James had a game-winning assist to Rui Hachimura for three. Hachimura hit the shot, and the Lakers won by three. James finished with eight points, ending the historic streak.
After the game Hachimura let everyone know that James told him he was going to get the ball.
“Bron, he told me right before this, he said ‘I got you’. He said ‘It’s going to come to you’. So that was it.
Before James had the record, Michael Jordan had scored in double digits for 866 straight games. James broke that record back in 2018. The last time James scored in single digits was back in 2007, which was just his fourth year in the league.
This is a record that will likely never be broken. It’s a record that has been going on for 18 years. It’s very rare that a player is able to play in the NBA that long, let alone be as effective as James has been for that period of time. This record will live on for quite a while.
GettyLeBron James drives the ball. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
LeBron James Has Shifted Into a New Role
James looks like he has transitioned into a new role. He is no longer one of the leading scorers for the Lakers on a night-to-night basis. He has moved into more of a secondary role, focusing on on passing and scoring when needed. It might be the perfect role for him at this stage of his career.
With this victory over the Raptors, Los Angeles is second in the Western Conference standings. James is still shaking off the rust, so he should only get better from this point forward. Doncic has been in and out of the lineup, too. Keeping those two guys healthy make this team a title contender.
James is one of the greatest passers to ever play the game of basketball, and he showed it once again in this assist. James has his lowest turnover percentage in a decade. Playing more of a supporting role gives the team the best chance to usurp the Thunder and win the West.
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