‘The Weakest Link,’ ‘He’s a Liability’ — Sports Analyst Tears Into LeBron James, Claims 22-Time All-Star Would Get ‘No Credit’ if 76ers Win NBA Title
· Yahoo Sports
Rob Parker didn’t hold back in his assessment of LeBron James’ historic 24th NBA season, questioning how much the 41-year-old is actually contributing to the Philadelphia 76ers’ strong start.
Through his first 10 games, James has struggled with his offensive efficiency, particularly away from the rim, as evidenced by his 11-point outing in Tuesday’s 123-101 home loss to the Boston Celtics.
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According to the analyst, James’ waning production could put an asterisk next to the final chapter of his storied career.
Rob Parker Questions LeBron James’ Impact on 76ers
Speaking on Wednesday’s edition of “The Odd Couple,” Parker sounded the alarm on James’ rough start.
“If you look at the numbers, okay, against Boston, 4-for-12, 11 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists. Last week against the [Cleveland Cavaliers], he had twice as many turnovers than baskets in that game. On the season, averaging 15, 7, and 6 on 43/23/70, it’s the worst he’s shot from the field since his rookie season,” Parker said. “… He shot 38% or worse in four of the 10 games so far.”
James shot just 3-for-12 (25%) and committed 6 turnovers in Friday’s 119-95 road loss to the Cavaliers. He also struggled from 3-point range against the Celtics, going 1-for-6 (16.7%).
Between those losses, James had a better showing, scoring 22 points on strong 8-for-16 shooting (50%) in Sunday’s 127-121 road win over the Chicago Bulls. Still, his averages are well below what fans have come to expect after he earned his record-extending 22nd All-Star selection with the Los Angeles Lakers last season.
As Parker noted, James’ 43.2% field-goal percentage is his least efficient mark since his rookie campaign (41.7%) back in the 2003-04 season, while his 15.1 points-per-game average and 23.7% shooting from deep are both career worsts by a wide margin.
“He’s got the worst plus-minus of anybody in the starting lineup! … He’s a plus-1 on the season, overall. He’s a liability. On a team that’s 9-3, how is that possible?” Parker added. “LeBron James, you are the weakest link! He is! There’s no denying it.”
Another championship would mark the fifth of James’ illustrious career, a milestone that many feel would aid his GOAT case, despite him playing alongside three stars in Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and Jaylen Brown. However, Parker strongly disagrees:
“If they were to somehow put it together and win a championship, he would get no credit for this championship. That’s how little his impact has been so far. It’s gonna be about the other people. LeBron James is an add-on.”
James missed Thursday’s 123-112 home victory over the Toronto Raptors due to lower back/sciatica management as Philadelphia keeps the bigger picture in mind.
While some regression was expected from the league’s oldest player, particularly athletically, the 76ers may need more consistent offensive production from James to achieve their end goal.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.