Struggling ‘LakeShow’ Needs Showstopping Move to Bring Shine to LeBron’s Exit

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James reacts after missing a basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Minneapolis on Dec. 2, 2024. Abbie Parr/AP Photo

Commentary

The Los Angeles Lakers’ City Edition jerseys feature “LakeShow” emblazoned across the front. But it’s more like “No-Show” on the court.

The Purple and Gold product has very little shine these days. In fact, it’s downright dull.

The “Showtime” Lakers are extinct, and other than a few milestone moments in the career of superstar LeBron James, the on-court excitement has but all gone.

The LakeShow was 19th of the 30 teams in average scoring per game, and 24th in 3-pointers made before Sunday’s action. The team is in the middle of the pack in transition scoring, not impressive enough for a nickname that includes the word “show.” The Lakers, on the other hand, show teams the way to their basket on fastbreaks, allowing about 18 points a game on defense, ranking near the bottom at 27th in the NBA.

James is about to turn 40 this month and his usage and game are both on the downswing as we move toward 2025. He recently also took some time away from the team for “personal reasons.” The timing of this step back might involve the ongoing Emirates NBA Cup break—since the Lakers are not in the running to defend the title after failing to reach the knockout round—but the decision befits a season that started out strong before hitting a gauntlet of potholes, sharp curves, and speed bumps.

James’s play is part of that bumpy ride. He recently missed 19 consecutive 3-point attempts over a four-game stretch and is at the lowest scoring average (20.9 per game) of his career.

Those numbers might be indications of a dip, but there is no denying the fact that James is still L.A.’s best player.

It certainly isn’t Anthony Davis, whom the club brought in for the 2019–2020 season. That season became a magical run to a championship as the Lakers took out the Miami Heat in the COVID-19 bubble postseason.

The bubble popped in an instant, and the organization has been at a standstill ever since. And the feasible solutions are few.

One thing is true: Davis hasn’t proven to be the answer, and that has been obvious since his second season with the club. Davis was brought in to take the baton from James and power the Lakers toward a successful future.

The closest Davis has been to a show in L.A. recently was on Dec. 9 when Shohei Ohtani and his wife, Mamiko Tanaka, graced Crypto.com Arena with their presence during L.A.’s 107–98 victory over the lowly Portland Trail Blazers.

The Lakers need a dynamic big man, and here are two targets:

No. 1: Giannis Antetokounmpo

The Milwaukee Bucks center is a natural swap for Davis—if the teams can make things work amid the league’s highly complicated salary cap rules—and would make an immediate impact on the court and in the market.

He brings toughness, especially in the low post where the Lakers lack presence, and can be a cog in another championship run, which LeBron so desperately seeks.

Antetokounmpo was the MVP of the 2021 NBA Finals, leading the Bucks to their first title in a half-century. His free-throw shooting is more Shaquille O'Neal-like than first-year Lakers coach JJ Redick, but a dynamic player such as Antetokounmpo can make up the difference with his overall skill.

He also provides the same kind of defensive ability Davis brings—shot blocking, agility to defend multiple positions, and quickness—and draws fouls on defenders at all three scoring levels.

It’s the kind of blockbuster move that would invigorate the franchise.

No. 2: Joel Embiid

Nicknamed “The Process” because of all the concessions the Philadelphia 76ers made to ease the 7-foot center into the pro game, Embiid entered the league with injury woes. He continues to be troubled by various maladies, but he was Philly’s best playoff performer last season and could add the punch the Lakers need to make a dent in the postseason.

He’s a presence in the middle, unlike Davis, and despite his health issues, would add some toughness to the Lakers in the paint.

The L.A. fan base these days seems to get most excited for two things: Any time rookie and first-round-pick Dalton Knecht lines up a 3-pointer, or when LeBron James Jr., who goes by Bronny, peels off his sweats to enter a game (when he’s up with the top team).

Laker-lovers, though, have expectations for championships and superstar players.

Davis has the value that could garner such a deal, but his numbers are deceiving. He is seventh in the NBA in scoring at 27.3 points per game but shrinks in the fourth period. According to StatMuse.com, Davis scores just 5.4 in the final quarter. LaMelo Ball of the Charlotte Hornets is the league leader in fourth-period scoring average at 11.1.

The franchise isn’t regularly in the business of letting great talents jump to other teams, so rumors of LeBron going to Golden State don’t seem to have real traction. Showmanship and entertainment, though, are part of the package when it comes to the Lakers, and it’s time for the LakeShow to take centerstage again.