Lakers News: Richard Jefferson Blasts LeBron James: ‘The Biggest Mistake of His Career’

The NBA champion slammed Los Angeles Lakers junior star LeBron James on November 9.

ESPN analyst Richard Jefferson, who won the 2016 championship with James at the Cleveland Cavaliers, said LeBron made the “biggest mistake” of his career by signing an extension with the Lakers. The Chosen One agreed a two-year, $97.1 million extension in August that includes a player option for the 2024-25 season.

The Lakers are off to a bad start this season. they are 2-9 and has the worst offensive rating in the NBA. James, who helped Los Angeles win the 2020 championship over the Miami Heat in the Walt Disney World Bubble, showed a level of commitment to the purple and gold by signing a two-year extension when he didn’t have to.

Instead of making a successful deal to improve the roster around James and Anthony Davis, General Manager Rob Pelinka acquired Patrick Beverly of the Utah Jazz and signed Troy Brown Jr., Thomas Bryant, Damian Jones, Dennis Schroeder, Juan Toscano Anderson and Lonnie Walker fourth in free agency. The Lakers don’t have any bowlers around James and Davis, as they were last in the NBA at a 3-point shooting ratio.

James cannot be traded until February 18, 2023, which is after this year’s trading deadline. The first four-time MVP and four-time finalist could be traded in the summer of 2023.

LeBron injured the groin area against the Clippers

James suffered a left thigh injury on November 9 against the Los Angeles Clippers and was eliminated in the fourth quarter. He finished with 30 points, eight rebounds, five assists, two steals and three turnovers in 32 minutes of movement while shooting 12 of 22 from the field, 4 of 9 from outside the arc and 2 of 4 from the free throw line.

“I didn’t do anything weird in the play,” James He said From the sequence when he modified his thigh while posting Clippers All-Star striker Paul George. “Only when I landed did I feel a little bit of a cramp or pressure in my groin. So immediately I had to get out after that in the next play when I went to the free throw line.”

James missed the Lakers’ November 7 game against the Utah Jazz with a left foot injury. King said he’ll get around-the-clock therapy so he can play on November 11 when the Los Angeles faces the Sacramento Kings.

LeBron should order next summer’s trade

James, who will turn 38 in December, should ask for a deal next summer. Pelinka did a terrible job as GM and LBJ wasted the last leg of his brilliant career playing for a dysfunctional franchise.

Pelinka had many opportunities to acquire shooters this past summer. The Lakers were close to acquiring Buddy Heald and Miles Turner of the Indiana Pacers. They could also get Bojan Bogdanovich and Mike Conley from the Utah Jazz. However, Pelinka did not want to part with his future drafts.

All indications are that the Lakers missed the playoffs again this season. James will eventually pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as NBA top scorer of all timebut that’s about the only positive thing that will happen to the Akron Hammer in 2022-23.