LOS ANGELES — In the private chambers of the Lakers’ facility, a meeting took place that was meant to be a turning point. JJ Redick, in his rookie year as head coach, sat down with his two superstars, LeBron James and Luka Doncic. The message was clear, direct, and desperate: “Separate on the defense.” It was a plea for effort, a demand for accountability, and a challenge to a 41-year-old legend to prove he could still impact both ends of the floor.

But as the dust settles on the recent string of blowout losses, one thing has become painfully obvious: The meeting didn’t work. In fact, it might have marked the beginning of the end for this iteration of the Lakers.

For years, we have been sold a specific narrative about LeBron James. We are told he is a physical anomaly, a defiance of biology, a “one-of-one” who transcends the aging process. When he throws down a thunderous dunk or pins a layup against the backboard, the highlight reels spin the tale of the ageless King. But in 2026, the tape tells a different, darker story—one of a player who is choosing his spots to the detriment of his team, and whose refusal to adapt is dragging a potential contender into mediocrity.

The Defensive Collapse: By the Numbers

The most damning evidence against James isn’t found in the opinions of pundits, but in the cold, hard data. Earlier this season, LeBron missed a stretch of roughly 14 games. During that time, a strange thing happened: The Lakers started to look like a coherent basketball team.

Without him, the defense ranked 14th in the league—not elite, but respectable, disciplined, and functional. They led the NBA in limiting offensive rebounds. The ball moved, rotations were crisp, and the team established a defensive identity. Then, LeBron returned.

Almost overnight, the floor fell out. The Lakers’ defensive rating plummeted to 29th in the league. Their opponent three-point percentage allowed dropped to dead last. They went from a mid-tier defensive unit to a turnstile, and the only major variable was the reintegration of LeBron James.

He currently ranks 426th in individual defensive win shares, a statistic that places him near the absolute bottom of the league for rotation players. Even his son, Bronny James, who sees limited minutes, grades out better defensively. This isn’t just “old age” slowing down reflexes; it is a structural failure.

The Eye Test: “Hesitation Dressed as Patience”

Watch a Lakers game closely, away from the ball, and you will see the root of the problem. It’s not that LeBron can’t run; it’s that he won’t run unless there is a scoring opportunity involved.

When a shot goes up and the Lakers miss, or a turnover occurs, you will often find James parked near half-court. Sometimes he is arguing a non-call with an official. Sometimes he is standing with hands on hips, watching the play unfold. Meanwhile, his teammates are sprinting back, frantically trying to defend a 4-on-5 or 3-on-5 fast break. This leaves the Lakers consistently outnumbered, leading to open threes and easy layups for the opposition.

The excuse is always the same: “He’s 41, he has to conserve energy.” But JJ Redick’s frustration—and the attempted intervention—proves that this is no longer an acceptable strategy. You cannot be a championship contender when your leader effectively takes half the game off.

The Luka Doncic Problem

Perhaps the most tragic aspect of this season is the wasted potential of the LeBron-Luka pairing. On paper, it was a dream duo. In reality, it has been a nightmare.

The chemistry issues are quantified in the net ratings, and they are brutal. When Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves share the floor without LeBron, the Lakers post a Net Rating of +7.3. The offense hums (118.4 rating), and the defense holds up (111.1 rating). It looks like a modern, winning team.

But when you swap Reaves for LeBron next to Luka? The bottom falls out. The offensive rating dips, the defensive rating balloons to 120.9, and the Net Rating crashes to a catastrophic -10.6.

Let that sink in: When the Lakers’ two superstars play together, the team is being outscored by double digits per 100 possessions. This is not just a “fit” issue; it is a “hijacking” issue. The offense becomes stagnant, waiting for LeBron to process the game, while Luka—a generational talent in his own right—is forced to operate in a system that no longer maximizes his strengths.

The Refusal to Adapt

The Lakers organization has tried to mitigate this. They approached LeBron about a minutes restriction, a logical step for a player in his 23rd season. The idea was simple: Play fewer minutes (25-28 range) so that the effort on defense could be sustained.

LeBron vetoed it. He insisted he was in better shape than most of the league and demanded his usual workload. This refusal to accept a reduced role is the crux of the conflict. He wants the minutes of a superstar but the defensive responsibilities of a retired veteran.

In his post-game comments, the deflection continues. He subtly complains about “playing off the ball” and not having enough touches, hinting that the system is the problem. It’s a playbook we’ve seen in Cleveland and Miami: When things go wrong, blame the roster, blame the coach, blame the help. But the “help” this time includes Luka Doncic, and the “roster” plays winning basketball when LeBron sits.

Conclusion: The Clock is Ticking

JJ Redick is in an impossible position. He is a rookie coach trying to tell the greatest player of all time that he is hurting the team. The meeting about defense was a brave first step, but the subsequent blowout losses to Detroit and Phoenix show that the message was ignored.

The Lakers are at a crossroads. They have a 41-year-old legend who is chasing stats and legacy, and a young core that is ready to win now but is being held back by the very icon they are supposed to follow.

LeBron James has four options: Start giving consistent defensive effort (which he seems unwilling to do), accept a bench role (which his ego won’t allow), retire (which he isn’t ready for), or continue down this path of mediocrity. Right now, he has chosen option four. And until that changes, the Lakers are not a title contender—they are just a farewell tour with a very expensive ticket price.