LeBron James can still help you win ‘in right situation,’ NBA coach says

LeBron James is the oldest active player in the NBA, and at 41, no one is confusing this version with the MVP years. That doesn’t mean he’s done mattering.

One NBA head coach put it plainly while speaking to ESPN.

“LeBron is still averaging 20 points and shooting 50%. He can help a team win,” the coach said. “You just have to find the right situation.”

James is in his 23rd season and continues to post respectable numbers for the Lakers. He’s averaging 20.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 6.5 assists while shooting just under 50 percent from the field. For a player at this stage of his career, that production still carries weight.

The picture, however, is more complicated. The Lakers’ offensive rating ticks up slightly when James goes to the bench, and his overall plus-minus sits in the red. That doesn’t mean he’s hurting the team as much as it reflects a shift that’s been building for a while.

For the first time in his NBA life, James is no longer the most important player on his own roster.

That role belongs to Luka Doncic, whom the Lakers view as their franchise cornerstone. Doncic’s defensive limitations are real, but his scoring gravity and offensive control place him firmly at the center of everything Los Angeles is trying to build.

James is signed through the season with a no-trade clause and will become an unrestricted free agent for the first time since 2018. Whether he chooses to retire or continue playing remains an open question.

What seems far less likely is a change of address. With Bronny James on the roster and his family settled in Los Angeles, the odds of James leaving the Lakers appear slim.

The Lakers are 21-11 and sitting fifth in the West despite a choppy December, but the foundation remains shaky. They rank near the bottom of the league in defensive rating, and consistency has been elusive.

Either way, James may no longer be the engine. He can still be a stabilizer. At this point, that may be exactly what the Lakers need.