JJ Redick appears to hold LeBron James accountable for the Lakers’ current issues

The Los Angeles Lakers have made an impressive start to the 2025–26 National Basketball Association (NBA) season, posting a 20–10 record and currently sitting fourth in the Western Conference standings.

The Lakers’ strong form was on display in their most recent outing, a commanding 125–101 home victory over the Sacramento Kings on Monday, December 29 (Philippine Standard Time). Leading the way once again was star guard Luka Dončić, who delivered a stellar performance with 34 points, seven assists, and five rebounds. He received solid support from LeBron James, who added 24 points, five assists, and three rebounds.

Despite the convincing win, questions have emerged regarding the Lakers’ offensive cohesion. Prior to the matchup against Sacramento, head coach JJ Redick raised eyebrows after appearing to link some of the team’s offensive struggles to LeBron’s return to the lineup.

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“Since we have gotten Bron back, we haven’t been as organized offensively. Too many random possessions. That’s on me. It’s those three things: defensive clarity, role clarity, and offensive organization,” Redick said.

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“Since we’ve gotten Bron back, we haven’t been as organized offensively; too many random possessions. It’s those three things. Defensive clarity, role clarity & offensive organization”

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“I really believe in getting back to basics and understanding the needs of the team and each guy, creating more clarity. I know having played that what can seem very simple up there isn’t simple once you’re in real time and live action. It’s not going to happen in a day, but we have to get back to building our defensive fundamentals,” he added.

The numbers offer some support to Redick’s concerns. In the 10 games prior to the Kings win, the Lakers averaged just 109.7 points per 100 possessions when James was on the floor—nearly four points fewer than when Dončić was leading the offense.

Additionally, the team’s advanced metrics show noticeable declines with James on the court. The Lakers’ offensive rating drops from 117.5 to 115.1, their defensive rating worsens from 118.1 to 121.9, and their net rating falls sharply from -0.6 to -6.8.

Defense, in particular, has been an area of concern. The Lakers currently rank 26th in the league in defensive rating (118.1), while allowing opponents to shoot 46.8 percent from the field.

Still, despite these issues, there is no denying that the Lakers have exceeded expectations through the early stages of the season. They will look to maintain their momentum when they host the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday, December 31 (Philippine Standard Time).

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