James Worthy Praises LeBron James For Embracing Being A Role Player

The Lakers beat the Bulls in a 142-130 shootout last night to win their fourth game in a row and move into sole possession of third place in the crowded Western Conference playoff race. Luka Doncic dropped nine 3s and 51 points on Chicago to lead the way, and his outburst was supplemented by 30 from Austin Reaves and 23 from Deandre Ayton.

When it was all said and done, the Lakers got 137 points from their starting five. It’s unusual for a Lakers win to not prominently LeBron James performance. Even though the 4 time NBA champion didn’t star in the win, he stuffed the stat sheet with 18 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals and a block in his return after a three-game absence.

Some observers, including Chris Mannix and Rachel Nichols, have noticed that the Lakers have played their best basketball without LeBron this season. It’s no surprise why. LeBron’s game doesn’t mesh with Doncic and the team just doesn’t have enough defense to support the pair of them and Reaves on the court together. At least that has been the consensus among analysts over the 41 year old’s role in the team.

It would appear, however, with a potential fall into obscurity in mind, LeBron has figured out a way to lend a hand, without demanding much in return. James Worthy definitely appreciated what LeBron brought to the table last night.

“He played in a role like a role player,” he said. “He’s arguably the best player in the game willing to do that. I think it’s an amazing approach that he took tonight.”

LeBron’s teammate, Deandre Ayton also liked what he saw and praised the 4 time MVP on his ability to find chemistry with everyone on the court, even when the light wasn’t shining as brightly on him as he has been used to for over two decades.

“That’s LeBron. I think greatness fits in with anything. And that’s LeBron James. He did a great job of just blending in, just playing his position and playing the big spot as well. He had some big plays down the stretch where he was protecting the rim on multiple efforts, and that was just big because I was on the bench and I was just seeing how he was playing so well,” Ayton said.

This is the kind of LeBron that the Lakers can win with. Not the heliocentric icon who has four rings and an argument as the greatest player of all time. What JJ Redick needs is a supercharged version of someone willing to do everything to win. Putting up huge points?

That’s what Luka is for. The Slovenian star is averaging over 40 points per game in his last four, and it’s no coincidence that the Lakers are 4-0 in that stretch. LeBron seemed to get that in the post-game locker room. “If it benefits others, it benefits the team,” he said.

“The team is most important. Everybody’s successful when we win. So yeah, it is a sacrifice, I know what I’m capable of still doing as an individual, but I’m able to adapt to what’s important for this team, and the win is the only thing that matters,” LeBron confessed.

The Lakers have been written off all year as a pretender, but they’re not only hanging tough with just 16 games to go until the playoffs, they’re peaking at the right time. If LeBron can keep ably filling a support role while Luka and Reaves go nuclear, then there are going to be plenty of Lakers-flavored plates of crow to go around to all the doubters.