The Los Angeles Lakers fell to 12-9 for the season with Monday night’s 109-80 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, and one of the most surprising stats this campaign is LeBron James’ on-offs.
Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James posted a plus/minus of -28 against the Minnesota Timberwolves
Entering Monday’s matchup with Minnesota, the Lakers were 21 points per 100 possessions worse with James on the court. The 20-time All-Star finished at -28 after recording a season-low 10 points, eight rebounds, and four assists in 30 minutes of action.
The Lakers star scored those 10 points on just 4-for-16 shooting from the field and 2-of-4 at the foul line. This means James shot 25% from the floor Monday, his sixth straight game shooting below 45%.
According to Basketball-Reference, it’s his longest streak shooting below 45% since 2004, when he failed to hit the mark in 11 straight games as a 19-year-old rookie.
James, who turns 40 on Dec. 30, also came into Minnesota missing his last 15 straight 3-pointers since tying Kyle Korver for seventh on the all-time 3s list, including going 0-of-9 versus the Utah Jazz on Sunday. Against the Wolves, he missed all four attempts, extending his streak to 19 straight misses.
That’s the worst he has shot from 3-point territory since he missed 24 straight from Dec. 26, 2003, to Jan. 13, 2004, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
Coach JJ Redick pulled both James and Anthony Davis in the fourth quarter while trailing by 25 points
Most worrisome is the fact that head coach JJ Redick pulled both James and Anthony Davis with the Lakers down 94-69 in the fourth quarter. The Timberwolves outscored Los Angeles 30-16 in the final frame.
Although D’Angelo Russell scored 20 in his return from illness and to the starting lineup, Los Angeles could not overcome James’ bad shooting and six turnovers.
Following the loss, Redick said he was unsure whether James’ goal to play in all 82 games is sustainable this season.
“I don’t know that’s in the best interest of him and us if he does that, but if he’s feeling well and feeling good, then he should play,” Redick said. “But we obviously want to … manage that as best we can.”
Additionally, James played in his 1,800th career game Monday between the regular season and playoffs combined, the most all time by any player and now leading Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1,797).
Los Angeles’ problems are not all because of James’ lackluster play, but the team is still expected to make adjustments moving forward. That could mean fewer minutes for the four-time MVP.
The Lakers play at the Miami Heat on Wednesday.
