Former NBA player Chandler Parsons called out LeBron James for what he saw as stat-padding to maintain his double-digit scoring streak during the Los Angeles Lakers' 125-108 loss to the Phoenix Suns. James finished with 10 points in 31 minutes, securing the mark with a late three-pointer. The defeat snapped the Lakers' seven-game winning streak.
LeBron James returned from a minor foot injury for the Lakers' game against the Suns on Monday night, following a rest day against the New Orleans Pelicans. Dealing with lingering effects from a sciatica injury that caused him to miss the first 14 games of the season, James made his debut on November 18 against the Utah Jazz. In this matchup, played on the Lakers' home floor, James struggled offensively, shooting 3-of-10 from the field and 1-of-4 from three-point range, while adding three assists and committing three turnovers.
With the game out of reach late in the fourth quarter, James had only seven points, putting his streak of 1,296 consecutive double-digit scoring games at risk. A three-pointer pushed him to 10 points before he exited, extending the streak to 1,297 games. Former NBA forward Chandler Parsons, speaking on FanDuel TV's 'Run It Back,' expressed disapproval of the moment.
"I got to be honest, I didn’t like it," Parsons said. "This was the first time in my life I saw an older LeBron James, who played and looked like his age. After sitting out the night before against New Orleans, I thought this was a perfect night for him to just go crazy and kind of carry this team to a victory. Luka went nuts early on, Austin Reaves was struggling, and LeBron James, he did not look like himself. For me, that’s the first time I’ve ever seen him like that. It was a nice gesture for JJ to keep him in there, and he definitely was hunting for it, and he was not coming out until he got it. This just felt like the first step of on the way out—catering to his legacy instead of focusing on this season and the game that was already over. Congrats, I guess, but I just didn’t love it, and it was just obvious what he was doing."
The loss highlighted broader issues for the Lakers, including 21 turnovers leading to 28 fast-break points for the Suns. James noted postgame, "Turnovers, transition points. And obviously, on our home floor and against a disruptive defense like that, you can’t turn the ball over that much. And they were pretty much all pick-sixes. They not only turned us over, they were able to convert." Head coach JJ Redick emphasized the need for adjustments: "You got to look at everything, everything. Rotations, schemes, all that stuff."
Austin Reaves contributed 16 points, four rebounds, three assists, and five turnovers. The Suns, missing Devin Booker for much of the game, capitalized on the Lakers' miscues to secure the 17-point victory. The Lakers, with their winning streak snapped after starting 7-0 following James' return, next face the Toronto Raptors on Thursday, followed by the Boston Celtics on Friday.