Lakers’ Current Approach Under Scrutiny as LeBron James’ Role Raises Serious Questions 

The Los Angeles Lakers are winning, but the conversation around the team hasn’t been so quiet. A 12-of-13 run has pushed them to third in the West as of March 25, 2026, yet everyone’s attention is shifting from results to structure. Something about this formula feels… unsettled.

At the center is LeBron James, now operating in a different lane. Under JJ Redick, he’s leaned into an off-ball, third-option role next to Luka Doncic. The efficiency is still elite. The impact, however, is more complicated. Add to that defensive concerns and workload management, and the balance becomes quite fragile.

As discussed by Chris Broussard on March 25, 2026, via First Things First on Fox Sports 1, questions are growing around whether this approach is sustainable, even if it’s working right now.

“We all talk about how high his basketball IQ is, historically high. There’s no way LeBron is sitting there watching Luka shoot 30 shots and miss 2/3 of them, thinking that’s smart. I’m definitely not saying he has any issue with Luka, but he’s watching this and there’s no way he thinks that’s the best way to play basketball. 

I think he realizes though this is the only way we can win. If I deplete myself the way D Wade did for LeBron, this is the best way we can win, but he knows that’s not smart basketball”