Draymond Green joked to the media as LeBron James sat courtside, ruled out of the season opener. “Bron’s old a– was over there in his Phil Jackson chair”. For the first time in 23 years, the Chosen One didn’t put on his jersey for the first game of the season. It was different; the Los Angeles Lakers’ rhythm without James. The visible gaps and the errors that screamed, “if only LeBron were here”. However, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, who chipped in 43 and 26 points, respectively, were promising. Meanwhile, AR, dejected in loss, made his feelings clear about the 40-year-old.

Reaves came alive in the Lakers’ 119-109 loss to the Warriors, lighting up the floor with 26 points on 9-of-16 shooting, 1-of-5 from deep, and 7-of-10 at the line. He added five rebounds, nine assists, and two steals in 36 minutes. With LeBron James sidelined, Reaves looks ready to shoulder the offense. He has to do a lot of heavy lifting in the veteran’s absence. Now, missing Bron is like taking away one of the pillars of the Lakers’ roster. Therefore, how focused on the smaller fixes can they all have to be, understanding that this team is going to really change again at some point?

“I think when the goal is to win, roles and situations change. But at the end of the day, you’ve got to do what you think is best to help the team win. And I feel like that’s what we did tonight. We came up short, but obviously, when you’re missing a guy like Bron, you’re not going to fill that with one person,” AR told the media in the locker room after the game. “You have to try to fill that. I need to do something a little better, Luka needs to do something a little better, Rui’s got to pitch in a little more.”

Reaves further added, “But like I said, you can’t do what he does with one person. If I was LeBron James, I probably would have retired by now. But yeah, he’s one of the greatest players to ever touch a basketball. So you have to do it as a collective group.” This wasn’t an age slander or a hit at Bron’s continuation in the league, even on an expiring contract. Instead, Austin Reaves simply praised his longevity and claimed that he wouldn’t have done this for so long.

LeBron James has been the heartbeat of Los Angeles since joining in 2018, leading the LA Lakers to glory in 2020. The offseason chatter about a potential move made noise, but the 40-year-old remains loyal to LA. After tying Vince Carter with 22 seasons, James exercised his $52.6 million player option, stepping into his record 23rd year, a legacy few can even dream of touching.

However, the legend now faces a brief pause of mild nerve irritation evolved into sciatica. Thus, forcing James to the sidelines for three to four weeks. Though he no longer dominates with the same load he once carried, his brilliance still fuels the Lakers’ championship hopes. Now, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are the center of all plans and strategies, while Bron takes a side seat. And if this duo can push the team through a championship, then maybe LA could roar without the King in full form.

Interestingly enough, Tuesday’s game night at Crypto.com Arena narrates a different story. The stats show the hole the Akron Hammer has left behind until his comeback. Well, surely, this isn’t what  JJ Redick had planned out for his boys. But sadly, the Golden State Warriors were heavy on the Lakers.

LeBron James’ absence exposed the loopholes in LA’s gameplay vs. the Warriors

LeBron James’ absence exposed every weakness in the Lakers’ 119-109 loss to the Warriors. Though they shot a sharp 54.5% from the field, their 25% from three and 60.7% from the line told another story. The 19 turnovers and 21 personal fouls hurt them deeply as the Golden State Warriors punished every mistake with an 89.7% free-throw rhythm that tilted the game’s balance.

Even with 39 rebounds and 62 points in the paint, the Lakers lacked James’ steadying presence. The Warriors looked cleaner and quicker with 29 assists, 10 steals, and 17 threes at 42.5%. Their 40 rebounds, including nine on offense, showcased hunger and precision. Meanwhile, LA searched for direction. Without James guiding the tempo, control slipped, and the cracks in their structure became impossible to hide.

Even kings need breathers, and this time, LeBron James watched from courtside. The Lakers felt the silence his presence once filled, their rhythm searching for its beat. Yet amid the cracks, Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic lit sparks of belief. The story may have tilted for now, but with the King soon to rise again, Los Angeles still hums with the promise of redemption.