Players often go through rough patches, and right now, LeBron James and Anthony Davis find themselves in the midst of one with the Los Angeles Lakers. After a disheartening 41-point defeat to the Miami Heat, the Lakers’ stars have been under scrutiny, as the team struggles to find consistency in the NBA regular season, sitting at a 12-10 record.
Some fans are starting to question the work of head coach JJ Redick, who is in his first season coaching in the NBA with the Lakers. His tenure has been a mix of highs and lows, but the recent downturn has led to calls for Redick to do more to turn things around. Despite the pressure on the rookie coach, much of the fanbase’s focus is also on the performance of LeBron and Davis.
In the previous game, LeBron James failed to score more than 10 points, sparking concern over his age and whether he could still carry the team. However, in the loss to the Heat, James showed flashes of his old self, contributing with key plays. Meanwhile, his teammate Davis struggled to maintain his usual level of performance, leaving fans wondering if he’s fully in rhythm this season.
A video circulating on social media captures a moment when LeBron and Davis appeared to be engaged in a conversation about the game. Some fans speculated that the two were arguing over the Lakers‘ poor showing against the Heat. However, neither Davis nor LeBron have addressed the matter publicly, leaving the true nature of their discussion up for speculation.
LeBron scolding AD after the timeout 😳 He is NOT happy with AD’s effort 😭
LeBron sent message to fans and teammates
After the game, James addressed the media, offering a candid assessment of the team’s performance and delivering a pointed message to his teammates. “There are no schemes, no X’s and O’s that can get you through that,” James said. “If you don’t want to compete, then that’s a different issue.”
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James made it clear that the responsibility for the team’s struggles lies with the players, not the coaching staff. “It’s not on the coaches; it’s definitely on us,” he added. With this remark, LeBron acknowledged that there’s plenty of room for improvement and, in doing so, took collective ownership of the team’s shortcomings. Despite some fans blaming the coaching staff for the Lakers’ performance, LeBron is emphasizing accountability within the locker room.
Davis sends strong message
As fans debated the performances of LeBron and Anthony Davis, the Lakers star was forthright about his own play. “I just have to be better, individually, on both ends of the floor,” Davis stated. “I hold myself to a higher standard, and I know I haven’t been doing what I need to do, especially offensively, to help the team.”
Davis didn’t hold back when discussing the game: “We just have to stick together. There’s still a lot of basketball left, but tonight wasn’t our style. That was embarrassing.” The message was clear: Davis knows he must elevate his game as the season progresses. In a recent matchup against the Heat, he scored just 8 points—a performance he is clearly not satisfied with.
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Like LeBron James, Davis took accountability for the team’s disappointing performance in the NBA regular season. However, he emphasized his commitment to stepping up, acknowledging that with more confidence, he can be a major asset to his teammates moving forward.
“It’s on us. It’s on us, the players,” Davis said. “We’re getting the schemes, and the schemes are on point. But we just have to go out there and execute them. I just need to step up for the team.”
