Can LeBron James really salvage the LA Lakers' season while chasing personal greatness?
LeBron James is currently a man on a mission. With Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's all-time regular season scoring just out of reach, it seems more of a question of when James breaks the record, not if. With only 284 points to go, barring any major setbacks or injuries, James will likely break the record well before the end of the season.
Despite that, the LA Lakers have been struggling this season. The franchise started the year with a historic five-game losing streak, leading many to question whether or not this year would be just as underwhelming as last year. While Anthony Davis put up MVP-caliber numbers to start the year, he was also visibly in pain.
Time and time again, Davis showed visible signs of pain and agony while on the court despite being dominant on both ends of the floor. With Davis sidelined, the odds of the team making a run at the title seem slim. Although there is hope within the organization that Davis can return before the All-Star break, the Lakers have struggled in his absence.
Despite impressive stretches from Russell Westbrook, Dennis Schroder and Thomas Bryant during Davis' absence, the team sits in 13th place in the West. During that time, LeBron James has put on jaw-dropping performances, including two 40-point performances this month.
While James is, of course, on a mission to break NBA history, he's acutely aware of the team's place in the standings and their chances of making the playoffs.
What does scoring record without a championship means to LeBron James
In year 20, many have praised James' recent string of performances as nothing short of remarkable, and they're right. Analysts, fans and James' own peers have all sung his praises for his spectacular play as of late. James is currently averaging 29.8 points per game, the second-most he's averaged in the past decade.
Another championship would put him in elite company among players like Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan, who have won five championships. While another championship remains a major goal, the opportunity to become the all-time scoring leader reigns supreme as the ultimate goal.
At the end of last year, Dwyane Wade spoke about his longtime friend and former teammate approaching Kareem's all-time scoring record. The way he sees things, the one thing LeBron wants is to break the Hall of Famer's record. He spoke to Sports Illustrated to discuss the situation:
"I’m not speaking for him when I say this, but I will speak as someone who spent a lot of time with him," Wade said. "He’s not a selfish individual on a basketball floor. But I feel that if there is one record that LeBron wants to walk away with more than the assist record, it would be the scoring record. And it’s because of what people say he cannot do"
LeBron James is currently questionable for the LA Lakers game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday. If he's able to suit up and take the floor, we could be in for another spectacular performance as he chases greatness.