LeBron James Is Reinventing Himself - And the Lakers Are Thriving Because of It
Twenty-three seasons into his Hall of Fame career, LeBron James is doing something we’ve never quite seen from him in a Lakers uniform - and maybe not in his entire NBA journey. He’s not the primary ball-handler.
He’s not the focal point of the offense. He’s not even the guy initiating every set.
Instead, he’s become the ultimate connector - a screen-setter, cutter, floor-spacer, and tone-setter. In short, he’s doing the dirty work.
And he’s doing it brilliantly.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t a case of Father Time forcing James into the shadows. This is a calculated pivot - a decision by one of the smartest basketball minds we’ve ever seen to adjust his game in service of a bigger goal. The Lakers have retooled their offense around Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, and LeBron has slotted into a new role with the kind of humility and precision that only a true basketball savant could pull off.
LeBron’s Usage Is Down - But His Impact Isn’t
This season, LeBron’s usage has taken a noticeable dip. He’s not dominating the ball like he once did, and that’s by design.
Instead of orchestrating every possession, he’s working off the ball - slipping into open space, setting hard screens, and making timely cuts that keep the defense guessing. And while those things don’t always show up in the box score, they’ve been crucial to the Lakers’ early-season success.
When James sets a screen for Dončić, defenders are put in a bind. Do you switch and risk LeBron punishing a mismatch?
Do you fight through and give Luka a step of space? There’s no good answer.
And when LeBron slips those screens or cuts backdoor, he’s still a threat to finish at the rim or make the extra pass that leads to an easy bucket.
This version of LeBron isn’t just efficient - it’s effective in all the ways that matter. He’s conserving energy, picking his spots, and leveraging his unparalleled basketball IQ to elevate the entire offense. At 40 years old, he’s proving that you don’t need to dominate the ball to dominate the game.
The Lakers Look More Balanced - And More Dangerous
One of the biggest changes this season is how balanced the Lakers look. There’s a flow to their offense that wasn’t there a year ago.
With LeBron embracing his role as a secondary or even tertiary option, Dončić and Reaves have more room to operate. The ball moves quicker.
The floor is spaced better. And the defense can’t just key in on one guy.
It’s the kind of shift that turns a collection of stars into a real team. And LeBron is the glue holding it all together.
Let’s not mistake this for a diminished role. LeBron’s still drawing attention every time he moves.
He’s still making defenses pay for mistakes. He’s just doing it in a way that amplifies the strengths of the players around him rather than overshadowing them.
A Masterclass in Basketball Maturity
There’s something deeply impressive about a player of LeBron’s stature willingly stepping back so others can step forward. This is a guy who’s built his legacy as one of the most dominant on-ball forces the game has ever seen. And now, he’s choosing to play off the ball, to screen and cut and space the floor - not because he has to, but because it gives his team the best chance to win.
That kind of self-awareness is rare. That kind of humility is rarer. And it’s exactly why the Lakers are in such a promising spot right now.
LeBron James isn’t chasing numbers. He’s chasing wins. And by evolving his game in year 23, he’s showing a whole new generation of players what greatness really looks like.
Bottom Line: LeBron the Glue Guy? It’s Working
Call him a "glue guy" if you want - just know that label doesn’t come close to capturing what he’s doing. He’s still LeBron James.
Still a matchup nightmare. Still a leader.
But now, he’s doing it in a way that makes everyone around him better.
And if this is what LeBron looks like in year 23? The rest of the league better keep paying attention. Because once again, he’s found a new way to win.