Dave McMenamin warns LA Lakers what LeBron James could do if they struggle during his absence

McMenamin thinks the Lakers will struggle without James

This injury is a tough piece of news for the Lakers because James is still a productive player. During the 2024-25 season, he only missed 12 games. He averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game on solid efficiency.

Missing that kind of production is a huge blow for the Lakers, as they could have played well if they had had a full training camp together. Unfortunately, that sciatica injury has ruined the Lakers’ plans, which should worry the fans.

Not only was he a reliable scorer, but he was also a superb playmaker. Head coach JJ Redick must make big adjustments, which will likely involve Doncic taking charge more than ever in his Lakers stint. ESPN’s Dave McMenamin thinks this is a significant loss for the Lakers.

“This becomes about Luka Doncic. He was signed to an extension in the offseason. He’s 26 years old. The prime of his career, and the Lakers are seeing this as an opportunity for him to stamp himself as the face of the franchise in the interim,” McMenamin said on NBA Today.

“We can see what the rest of the Lakers roster looks like. Rob Pelinka was able to turn not many assets into some feasibly strong players like Deandre Ayton, Jake LaRavia, and Marcus Smart. Let’s see how they fit in.”

“LeBron’s gotta be watching, while he’s out. If they are struggling, that could lead to the next step… When Rich Paul said that LeBron will be watching the Lakers’ every move because the priority is to win. If they are not winning, maybe LeBron might have to go elsewhere.”

The Lakers are under pressure early in the season

Since James will miss out on a significant chunk of the first month of the season, Doncic and the rest of the team must perform well from the jump. If they lose too many games early on, they might find it hard to come back, even with James in the lineup.

It will be up to Doncic and Redick to lead this team to a strong start. If they can maintain a strong level without James, the four-time champion can slot back into the team more naturally. They won’t need to overexert themselves when James returns.

This will be challenging for the Lakers because they have many new players on the team. Ayton, Marcus Smart, and LaRavia are expected to play key roles, but they must perform well to impress the coaching staff and fans.

If the Lakers cannot start strong, they might have to worry about James’ expiring contract. Rich Paul already warned them in the offseason, so there is a chance that James leaves in the middle of the season and permanently leaves the Lakers without their second superstar.