LeBron James is the proud holder of many NBA records, and one of his most prolific is his 1,297 consecutive games scoring double-digit points. However, that record was nearly halted in the Los Angeles Lakers‘ latest loss to the Phoenix Suns.
James had only seven points midway through the fourth quarter, but finally hit a three-pointer to hit the double-digit scoring mark once again. Yet the 41-year-old finished with just 10 points, one of the lowest marks of his career, as the Lakers’ seven-game winning streak was snapped.
James is still making a return to full form after missing the first month of the season with sciatica. Regardless, former NBA player Chandler Parsons called out the star for trying to ‘cater to his legacy.’
“I didn’t like it. This was the first time in my life I saw an older LeBron James who played and looked like his age,” Parsons said on FDTV of James continuing his streak. “He definitely was hunting for it, he was not coming out until he got it. This just felt like the first step of on the way out and like kind of catering to his legacy instead of focusing on this season and the game.”
James shot just three of ten from the floor and one of four from deep, while finishing with no rebounds, three assists, and three turnovers in 31 minutes in the 17-point loss.
Parsons Calls Out LeBron After Scoring Streak Continues
Though James has just played only five games this season after his long-awaited return from injury, the scoring is clearly not at the level it was at in the past. That could be in part due to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, but overall, the 21-time All-Star has been less efficient from the field for the Lakers so far.
James only has one game with more than 20 points, a 25-point night on 60% from the field against the Clippers. Besides that, he’s scored 11, 17, 13, and now 10 points, on a combined 20/48 shooting from the field and 5/17 from three.
“After sitting out the night before (rest) against New Orleans, I thought this was a perfect night for him to go crazy and carry this team to a victory,” Parsons added. “LeBron James, he did not look like himself, which for me is the first time I’ve ever seen him like that.”
“Congrats, I guess, but I honestly, I didn’t love it, and it was just obvious what he was doing.”
Fans on social media also criticized James after the loss. Reaves himself didn’t have the best game, as he finished with 16 points, four rebounds, three assists, and five turnovers with a -11 while on the court. It was mostly Doncic who led the way in the loss, ending with 38 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists to keep his seven-game 30+ scoring streak alive.
Lakers Assign Blame For Loss
While Doncic led the Lakers in points and rebounds, he also had a team-low -25 while on the court, and tied a career-high with nine turnovers. Los Angeles lost the turnover battle 21-11, the team crediting that as the key reason for falling short.
“No way I can have nine turnovers in a game,” Doncic said postgame. “I feel like it definitely was a different defense than other teams [play]… Kind of trying to let me go score instead of creating for others. So, it was kind of confusing, but like I said, just can’t have it.”
James himself, while not addressing keeping his double-digit scoring streak alive, also said turnovers played a major part, as he finished with three of his own.
“Turnovers, transition points,” James said. “And obviously, on our home floor and against a disruptive defense like that, you can’t turn the ball over that much. And they were pretty much all pick-sixes. They not only turned us over, they were able to convert.”
The Suns had 28 fast break points compared to the Lakers’ 2. After the game, head coach JJ Redick also said he needs to make major adjustments to ensure a loss like this, as Phoenix was without star Devin Booker for much of the game, doesn’t happen again.
“You got to look at everything, everything,” Redick told reporters. “Rotations, schemes, all that stuff.”
The Lakers had an off night all-around, barring Doncic’s scoring, in what was their first loss since November 12th, but James kept his streak alive.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post NBA Vet Rips LeBron James For ‘Legacy’ Catering In Lakers Loss appeared first on Heavy Sports.