LeBron James is going through a tough time with his shooting, especially from long range.
James missed all four of his 3-point attempts in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 109-80 loss to Minnesota on Monday night. This extended his slump to 0 for 19 from beyond the arc in the last four games.
After making just 4 of 16 shots overall and contributing six of his team’s 20 turnovers for a season-low 10 points against the Timberwolves, James was asked to reflect on the Lakers’ performance at the quarter mark of their 2024-25 season, which stands at 12-9 under rookie coach J.J. Redick.
“I wouldn’t say I’ll take it. I would never want to say that,” James said. “It is what it is. This is our record. We’ve just got to continue to get better at both ends of the floor.”
The Lakers’ struggles, especially on offense, aren’t limited to James alone. His average of 22 points per game is the lowest it’s been since his rookie season 21 years ago.
“We’re just not good offensively right now. I think we spent so much time trying to get our defense corrected that our offense took a toll and took a back seat to that,” he said.
James hasn’t made a 3-pointer since he tied Kyle Korver for seventh place on the NBA’s career list with 2,450 last week. His fourth 3-point attempt against the Timberwolves was an air ball, which made the crowd at Target Center react audibly.
The struggle isn’t just with long-range shots; James is also having trouble with his mid-range game.
“Just period, just everything,” James said. “Just a rhythm. I just feel off rhythm the last few games.”
When asked how he plans to fix it, he said, “Work. Just work. That’s all.”
James still aims to play all 82 games this season, but his recent performances have led to questions about whether that is a wise goal.
“We are measuring the players, and we can tell if a guy is running hot or whatever,” Redick said. “He does a remarkable job of taking care of his body and getting recovery. I don’t know if that’s in the best interest of us and him if he does that, but if he’s feeling well and good then he should play.”
James said his goal of playing all 82 games remains in place as he approaches his 40th birthday on December 30. However, he declined to comment on the possibility of resting.
For now, the bigger issue for the Lakers is improving their offense as they continue adjusting to Redick’s system and a new coaching staff. Their 80 points against Minnesota was their lowest since a 122-73 loss to Dallas in 2017, according to Sportradar.
“Sometimes we look like a team that can compete with anyone, and sometimes we look like a team that is terrible and not going to do anything this season,” said co-star Anthony Davis. “We’ve just got to figure out what team that we want to be the rest of the season.”
