Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James was booed by his own fans as the Lakers slipped to a heavy 123-95 home loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday.
James is starring on an individual level with 29.0 points per game, with 7.9 rebounds and 6.3 assists. However, the Lakers are struggling and could miss out on the NBA Playoffs as their regular season record slipped to 27-33 following their ninth lost in their last 12 games.
Two years after winning the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy, the Lakers are sat in ninth place in the Western Conference, narrowly ahead of the Pelicans and the Portland Trail Blazers, who lie in 10th and 11th respectively. It is a close race for the postseason as only 10 teams qualify for the play-in tournament, which offers an opportunity to teams that miss out on the playoffs to qualify.
During a crushing third quarter in which the Pelicans obliterated the Lakers 44-25, a James turnover - which was Los Angeles’ 18th of the match - triggered a fiery reaction from the frustrated home fans. James and teammate Russell Westbrook committed seven turnovers apiece through the first three quarters.
It was James’ 500th career 30-point game — only Wilt Chamberlain (515) and Michael Jordan (562) boast more in NBA history. The 37-year-old finished with 32 points and six rebounds, while Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram impressed with 19 points and eight assists while CJ McCollum scored 22 points in the dominant win.
Former New York Times and ESPN writer Marc Stein took to social media to criticise the Lakers, tweeting: “Ingram is just GIVING it to the Lakers. Goodness. No spirit or fight out there from the home team.
“Gotta factor in the injuries but man … it is astonishing to see a LeBron James team this punchless. He’s never had less help and never needed more.”
The performance came after James insisted he wants to remain with the Lakers for the remainder of his career. James triggered speculation that he could leave the Lakers during the All-Star Weekend in Cleveland when he said he wanted to finish his career by playing alongside his son Bronny, who is in high school.
James insisted he ‘would do whatever it takes’ to play with his son for a year - but, when speaking after the Lakers’ loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday, James declared he had no intention of leaving the 2020 NBA champions.
James has one more year on his contract and will qualify for a two-year extension later this year.
“This is a franchise I see myself being with. I’m here. I’m here,” James told reporters. “I see myself being with the purple and gold as long as I can play.”
However, the four-time NBA champion re-iterated his desire to play long enough to partner with his son in Los Angeles. James added: “I also have a goal, if it’s possible — I don’t even know if it’s possible — that if I can play with my son, I would love to do that.
“That’s like the coolest thing that could possibly happen. That doesn’t mean I don’t want to be with this franchise.”
