Within 24 hours, the fanbase learned both Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves have suffered injuries requiring weeks of rehab, a shocking development that echoed inside the Lakers locker room. LeBron James had just woken up from a nap when he found out the team wasn’t losing one, but both of their lead ball handlers.

The Akron Hammer resorted to smiling as a way to cope because he and the Lakers felt empty inside. “It was a shot to the heart and the chest and the mainframe with Luka,” said the four-time NBA champion. However, that blow was quick, since the Slovenian exited the game against the Thunder.

Reaves’ situation, however, was prolonged. A wrong MRI delayed the diagnosis of his Grade 2 oblique strain. LeBron James never expected another arrow to come shooting down on the Lakers. But once they knew what had happened, he had just one word. “S—t,” James said about his thoughts upon learning of AR15’s injury.

The pair of injuries came as a shock the Lakers could never see coming. The team was on a fairytale run. They finished March with a 15-2 record. JJ Redick had a healthy roster and encouraged the Lakers’ newfound mentality. Luka Doncic steamrolled that identity with his total control of the game. Austin Reaves was the secondary star.

But with them out without a set return timeline, everything is blowing up. The Lakers only have a week before the postseason begins. At 41, the onus now lies on LeBron James to keep the season alive for the Lakers. And there’s no time to take it easy. Even with just four games remaining, every result still matters in the West.

This isn’t the first time LeBron James has been asked to carry a battered Lakers roster deep into the season. Back in 2020-21, both he and Anthony Davis battled major injuries late in the year. LeBron missed 26 of the final 30 regular-season games with a high ankle sprain, while AD had already been sidelined for weeks with a calf strain earlier.

The defending champions limped into the play-in tournament, scraped through it, then watched their playoff hopes collapse when Davis suffered a groin injury in the first round against the Suns. That painful stretch showed exactly what LeBron is capable of when the supporting cast is thin, and what it takes for the Lakers to survive when their two best players are unavailable.

After suffering their first major shock, LeBron James wants a change in mentality from the Lakers.

LeBron James Calls for a Stronger Mentality from the Lakers

When healthy, the Lakers didn’t have to worry about playoff seeding. Not only was there a belief in beating anybody, but the team also holds the tiebreaker advantage against the Rockets, Nuggets, and Timberwolves. However, there’s a chance the Lakers lose their grip and slip all the way to fifth.

It’s just a matter of losing a few games. Understanding the gravity of the situation, LeBron James made an admission to his teammates. “You got to flip the mindset a little bit. I think it’s up to all of us, whoever is in the lineup, to pick up our play,” said James.

It didn’t result in a win against the Dallas Mavericks tonight. Cooper Flagg erupted for 45 points only one game after becoming the youngest player in NBA history to score 50. However, the Lakers managed to keep it competitive. And it was clear that James’ message was heard.

James led by example with a near triple-double of 30 points, 9 rebounds, and 15 assists. His effort inspired others to step up, with Luke Kennard delivering a surprise triple-double and backup center Jaxson Hayes pouring in 23 points, proving the team has the depth to remain competitive. Although the result didn’t go their way, the Lakers showed they haven’t been shattered by the injuries and still have the will to compete.

That’s going to be imperative over the rest of their games. They have the same record as the Nuggets, with the Rockets just one game behind. It’s going to take some more inspiring efforts as they did tonight. The Lakers play the Thunder, the Warriors (with Stephen Curry), and the Phoenix Suns over the next three games.

Winning most of those games would help secure a third-seed finish. But even if the seeding goes wrong, the Lakers can’t falter. They’ve worked tirelessly and made immense sacrifices to become a successful machine. Head coach JJ Redick is keen on extending the season so their two stars can rejoin the team.

The Lakers just showed they will go to any lengths, individually and as a unit, to solve their predicament. Do you think they can achieve it if players step up like they did tonight? Let us know your views in the comments below.