LeBron James opted not to address the media following the Lakers’ defeat at the hands of the Heat. It was a disappointing game for James, as he struggled to find his rhythm on Wednesday night. In what could be considered his worst performance this season, he tallied only 12 points in 38 minutes of play. To add insult to injury, he emulated Dillon Brooks by leaving the Crypto.com Arena without speaking to reporters.
Facing one of his former teams, James had a difficult time finding his scoring touch, shooting a lackluster 6-for-18 from the field. He failed to make a single three-point attempt, missing all six tries. Despite his scoring woes, he did contribute with six rebounds and nine assists. Unfortunately, his efforts weren’t enough to secure a victory for the Lakers, who now possess a 17-18 record for the season and are currently on a three-game losing streak.
Their recent slump is evident in their overall performance, with just two victories in their last 10 games. ESPN’s Dave McMenamin shed light on James’ actions after the game, drawing parallels to Dillon Brooks’ behavior from last season’s playoffs when the Lakers eliminated the Memphis Grizzlies.
LeBron James has once again chosen not to speak to the media after a disappointing loss, and this is not the first time he has done so. A couple of seasons ago, on March 14, 2022, when the LA Lakers were defeated by the Toronto Raptors, James also refused to address the press. Despite acquiring Russell Westbrook in the previous summer, the Lakers faced a challenging season and failed to make it to the playoffs.
If James fails to provide a valid excuse for missing the media availability after Wednesday’s game, he could potentially face a $25,000 fine. Although he has more than enough money to pay for it, his visible frustration with the outcome of the game suggests that he is genuinely affected by the loss.
Throughout the first half of the game, the Lakers made efforts to keep the score close, but in the final quarter, the Miami Heat seized control. Despite the absence of Jimmy Butler due to an injury, the Lakers had an opportunity to break their losing streak but were unable to capitalize on it.