LeBron James Suffers Worst Scoring Slump in 21 Years

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LeBron James is going through one of the worst scoring slumps of his career, with just 12 points (5-of-13 shooting) in the Los Angeles Lakers 101-93 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Friday’s NBA Cup match. This performance extended his streak of games scoring under 20 points to four consecutive games, something that hasn’t happened since his rookie season in 2003-04.

The Last Time James Went Four Games Without Scoring Over 20 Points

The last time LeBron James experienced a slump like this was during his debut season, when he scored 19, 4, 8, and 18 points between December 2 and December 9, 2003. Since then, James has had only a couple of similar slumps in his early years. However, in recent seasons, it’s rare for him to fail to score over 20 points in three consecutive games. The last time this occurred was during the 2020-21 season after returning from an ankle injury.

Shooting Problems and Turnovers

During this four-game slump with under 20 points, James has shot just 42% from the field and a disappointing 17% from three-point range. Moreover, he has been averaging more than 5 turnovers per game, making uncharacteristic mistakes. For example, in Friday’s loss, LeBron missed 1-of-5 shots in the final quarter and committed two crucial turnovers, derailing the Lakers’ chances of a comeback.

How Do NBA Odds Reflect James’ Struggles?

The NBA ODDS have reflected LeBron’s struggles. The Lakers are 1-3 during this period of poor performance from their star, and 1-4 in their last five games. As analysts have pointed out, James’ struggles with mid-range shooting have been evident over the last eight games, during which he’s made only 12-of-42 jump shots.

What Lies Ahead for the Lakers?

With the Lakers currently at an 11-8 record, their upcoming four-game road trip, which will take them through Utah Jazz, Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat, and Atlanta Hawks, could be crucial for their season. If LeBron can’t break out of this slump, the Lakers may fall below .500 by the end of this trip. The NBA ODDS for their upcoming games may be affected by LeBron’s performance, potentially creating an opportunity for bettors closely following the Lakers’ situation.