Most people assumed that the Los Angeles Lakers would have some problems this season.
Not a whole lot changed for the team during the offseason and the problems that plagued them last year were likely to reappear this year.
Sure enough, LA sits towards the bottom of the West with a painful 7-12 record.
That’s a long way from being Finals contenders.
Despite that, LeBron James has been playing a lot and putting up tons of points.
He has had his own problems, there is no doubt about that.
But James has continued to be a huge presence for the team.
LeBron James is currently averaging 25.4 PPG this season.
At this pace, he is 40 games away from breaking Kareem’s all-time points record. pic.twitter.com/dYBJiA892h
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) November 29, 2022
And now he is very close to making NBA history.
Currently, James is averaging 25.4 points per game for his Lakers.
That means that he’s about 40 games away from breaking Kareem Abdul-Jabbar‘s all-time points record for the league.
We all knew this was coming and James claiming this honor is all but inevitable.
But will it come as his team continues to struggle?
LeBron & His Lacking Lakers
Yes, James will become the all-time points leader in the NBA within just a few weeks.
That will lead to a great celebration which will be well-earned.
But it cannot paper over the fact that James isn’t having his best season.
Between multiple absences and some shoddy shot selection and defense, James has shown some weakness in his game.
That was evident on Monday night as the team was taken down by the Indiana Pacers after leading by 17 points.
This wasn’t all James’ fault but he wasn’t as consistent as he usually is.
Still, James is one of the most consistent guys in the league, despite his occasional missteps.
NEXT: The Lakers Had Smooth Moves During Tough Loss