An NBA scout thinks Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James “could be exposed on defense in the playoffs.”
James, 40, is the oldest player in the NBA.
“Luka Doncic has to guard somebody, and you can wear him down,” the NBA scout told ESPN. “When LeBron is on the weak side, he switches so he doesn’t have to move as much. I’ve seen him do it several times in one possession. In the playoffs you will see teams target LeBron and Luka, put them in the pick-and-roll.
“The thing with LeBron is he’s not going to foul; you can score on him with the right matchup. With the right personnel he could be exposed on defense in the playoffs. He’s amazing, taking nothing from him, but it’s a worry.”
The Lakers are 11th in the NBA in points per game allowed and 16th in defensive rating under first-year head coach JJ Redick.
James has made six All-Defensive teams during his Hall of Fame career. He has shown this season that he can still defend at a high level when he’s engaged and motivated.
Only time will tell how James plays defense for the Lakers in the 2025 playoffs.
A 21-time All-Star, James is averaging 24.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and 8.2 assists this season while shooting 51.2% from the field, 37.8% from beyond the arc and 78.2% from the free-throw line.
James is a four-time champion. He hasn’t won a title, though, since 2020.
The Lakers have two games left in the regular season against the Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers. They need to win one of those games to clinch the third seed in the Western Conference playoffs.
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