LeBron James’ recent comments should worry LA Lakers fans, ‘I’m the wrong guy…’

LeBron James’ concerning comments after beating the Utah Jazz

A typically laser focused James hasn’t been his usual basketball obsessed self through the opening months of the season. 

JJ Redick was left frustrated by James in a game against the Phoenix Suns, when James was laughing with the Suns’ bench as the Lakers’ head coach was trying to call a play down 21 points. It appears that not being the number one option has caused him to relax a little too much.

And when asked whether he thinks young Jazz star Keyonte George deserves to be an All-Star this season, after he went off for 34 points against the Lakers, James’ admitted that he’s not paying close attention to the NBA.

He replied, “I’m the wrong guy to ask that question, champ. I watch YouTube golf these days, so I’m the wrong guy to ask about that.

“You know, he played great tonight, he played great last time we played them and he’s playing good ball vs us. But, I’m more into Bryan Bros and Grant Horvat and Bryson DeChambeau and the rest of those guys.”

James’ newfound golf obsession appears to have lit a new fire in him, as he applies himself to a game in which he is a complete novice. That’s not a problem in itself. Many players throughout NBA history have been avid golfers.

But not paying attention to what is going on around the league, to the extent where you don’t know whether one of the star players on a team you just played is playing at an All-Star level, shows James simply doesn’t have the same level of focus as he did when he was leading teams.

That could be a concerning sign for the intensely detail oriented Redick.

The reason for LeBron James’ new golf obsession

At this stage of his career, championships is all that matters for James. His points streak is over, there are no more milestones for him to reach. The 82-game slog is all just a prelude for what really matters, the playoffs. 

But he’s still got to get through the regular season, which can be incredibly mentally taxing for a player that is doing this for the 23rd time. So this newfound obsession with golf is James’ form of mental offloading.

As he was sidelined with an injury to start the season, James was open about using golf to challenge his mind with something different. By focusing more on DeChambeau’s swing techniques over the Jazz scouting report, he’s preventing a mental burnout, which is as much of a threat to the Lakers’ title hopes as a physical injury. 

But the worry for Lakers fans is the strain this will put on the rest of the team. Redick is bound to be frustrated with James’ wandering mind, as is Doncic who needed a 45-point triple double for his team to beat Utah.

Perhaps as the season progresses James will lock in, but until then, expect a frustrated Redick and an unfocused James.