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Former Clippers star drops absurd take on LeBron James’ LA Lakers role, ‘know your place…’

Originally posted on NBA Analysis Network
By Aikansh Chaudhary | Last updated Dec 9, 2025 2:00 PM ET

LeBron James turned the clock back during the LA Lakers’ close win over the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Los Angeles Lakers took care of business against the Philadelphia 76ers with a 112-108 win during their recent clash.

LeBron James impressed fans with his fourth-quarter heroics during his 29-point scoring outburst, showing that he’s far from done in his NBA career.

Can LeBron James still save his poor start to his 23rd NBA season?

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Despite that, former LA Clippers star Olden Polynice had a brutal take on James’ place in the Lakers’ hierarchy this season.

Olden Polynice says LeBron James is third in the LA Lakers’ hierarchy

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For the first time in his 23-year NBA career, James is arguably the third option on a team. After all, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are playing out of their minds during the 2025-26 NBA season.

In fact, the Lakers flourished in James’ absence due to a sciatica injury. Additionally, LBJ had a poor start to the season as his double-digit scoring streak was snapped.

Although James proved that he’s still an elite player against the 76ers, Polynice wants the King to know his place on the Lakers.

“LeBron. 23 years. You’re an amazing player. You’re great. One of the greatest ever. We get all that. But you got to know your place now. And it is the hierarchy of Luka, Reaves, LeBron.

“He’s going to realize, ‘I’m not going to get the ball as much as I used to,’ because Luka is going to dominate that ball, number one,” Polynice said on the Fast Break podcast.

He added: “And Austin Reaves, by playing as well as he did — with the ball in his hands all the time while LeBron was out — solidified him as number two.”

LeBron James will hover around 10 PPG, predicts Olden Polynice

Even after a sensational performance against the 76ers, Polynice made a horrific prediction about James’ scoring for the rest of the season.

“So now, if LeBron wants to start getting shots, it’s going to take away from a guy that’s giving you 30, you know. So now he’s in a tough situation,” Polynice continued.