Former NBA coach Sam Mitchell had a very bold take about LeBron James’ value at this stage of his career.
In an appearance on SiriusXM NBA Radio, Mitchell indicated that James is no longer anyone’s first option, and that the legendary forward is struggling to accept that reality. Mitchell even said James would not be the first option on the Washington Wizards, one of the league’s worst teams.
“This is what LeBron doesn’t understand. It hasn’t sunk in,” Mitchell said. “Whatever team you go to, you’re the third option. You’re not going to a team when you’re the first option anymore. If you went to the Washington Wizards, you would still not be the number one option.”
One can certainly dispute Mitchell’s view of James at this stage in his career. He would probably be the go-to ahead of CJ McCollum on Washington, for instance. It is fair to suggest, however, that James is taking on a more supporting role in his career. He is the Lakers’ third-leading scorer this season behind Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, and his 6.8 assists per game are down significantly from 8.2 last season.
We still do not know if this is James’ final NBA season. His mind certainly seems elsewhere at times. He can certainly still contribute in a big way, and he might even appreciate a lighter load at this stage of his career, but it is clear he is not the focal point anymore in the same way he used to be.