Perkins Calls for LeBron-Lakers Split After Christmas Rout
Los Angeles, Dec. 27 – There were no gifts waiting under the tree for the Los Angeles Lakers this Christmas, only a stark reality check delivered by the Houston Rockets. What was billed as a holiday spectacle turned into a 119-96 dismantling, a loss that has sparked fierce debate not about the game itself, but about the future of the franchise’s cornerstone, LeBron James.
The scoreboard told one story—a dominant Rockets team overpowering the Lakers in nearly every facet of the game—but the statistics sheet whispered a more concerning narrative. LeBron James, usually the engine of the Lakers’ offense, seemed to be operating in low gear. In 32 minutes of action, the four-time champion managed just 13 shot attempts, finishing with 18 points, five assists, and two steals.
For a player of James’s caliber, the passive stat line was alarming, but it was his demeanor that drew the sharpest criticism. On Friday’s episode of ESPN’s First Take, former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins didn’t hold back. He pointed past the box score to the “disengaged” body language James displayed throughout the rout. Perkins argued that the lack of aggression wasn’t just a bad night; it was a symptom of a much deeper issue festering within the squad.
The critique went beyond mere performance analysis. Perkins, known for his candid takes, suggested that the disconnect is rooted in a lack of faith. According to the 2008 champion, James’s passive play is a signal that he no longer believes in the current group the front office has assembled around him.
This assertion transforms a single regular-season loss into an existential crisis for the Lakers. If the team’s leader has indeed checked out mentally, the path to playoff contention becomes nearly impossible to navigate. Perkins took his analysis to its logical, albeit drastic, conclusion: it might be time for the Lakers and LeBron James to part ways.
“He doesn’t believe in the current group the team has assembled.” – Kendrick Perkins
Perkins’ assessment cuts to the heart of the Lakers’ current dilemma. It implies that the roster issues are too severe for even arguably the greatest player of all time to overcome, leading to a resignation visible on the court. It frames the relationship not as a slump, but as a broken marriage.
Christmas Day is often a measuring stick for NBA contenders, and the Lakers measured up short. With a prominent analyst now openly calling for a trade, the pressure on the Lakers’ front office has intensified significantly. Whether this loss serves as a wake-up call or the beginning of a high-profile divorce remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the status quo in Los Angeles is no longer working.
