LeBron’s Shooting Woes Signal a Stark New Reality for the King’s Reign

LeBron James is currently navigating one of the toughest shooting slumps in NBA history. Over his last four games, he has missed all 19 of his 3-point attempts, coming close to RJ Barrett’s record of 21 consecutive missed 3-pointers over four games. While this stretch is alarming, it’s not entirely out of character for James, who has historically been a streaky shooter.

He captured his first two MVP awards despite shooting below league-average from beyond the arc, and his career-low 3-point shooting percentage of 30.9% came during his legendary 2016 championship season.

What makes this slump concerning isn’t just the missed threes—it’s the broader decline in his overall offensive efficiency. In the Lakers’ 109-80 loss to the Timberwolves on Monday, James went 0-for-4 from three, but more strikingly, just 4-of-12 on two-point attempts, finishing with a season-low 10 points.

He managed to extend his streak of scoring double-digits in 1,243 consecutive regular-season games thanks to a fourth-quarter free throw, but it was a struggle. This season has already seen James produce three games with 12 or fewer points—compared to just two such games all of last season.

While poor shooting has never defined LeBron’s greatness—his dominance stems from his all-around game—the current struggles hint at a sobering reality. As he nears 40 and the Lakers rely heavily on his leadership, James is showing the first real signs of physical decline.

With the team reevaluating his goal of playing all 82 games, the Lakers and fans are left wondering how much longer LeBron can remain the focal point of their ambitions.