Draymond Green joked to the media as LeBron James sat courtside, ruled out of the season opener. “Bron’s old a– was over there in his Phil Jackson chair,” he said. For the first time in 23 years, the Chosen One didn’t put on his jersey for the first game of the season. It was just different; the Lakers’ rhythm without James. The visible gaps and the errors screamed, ‘If only LeBron were here.’ However, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, who chipped in 43 and 26 points, respectively, were promising. Meanwhile, AR, dejected by the loss, made his feelings about the 40-year-old clear.

Reaves came alive in the Lakers’ 119-109 loss to the Dubs, lighting up the floor with 9-of-16 shooting, 1-of-5 from deep, and 7-of-10 at the free-throw line. He added five rebounds, nine assists, and two steals in 36 minutes. With James sidelined, AR looked ready to shoulder the offense. He needs to do a lot of heavy lifting in the veteran’s absence. Therefore, how focused can they all be on the smaller fixes, considering that this LA team will change again at some point?

“I think when the goal is to win, roles and situations change. But at the end of the day, you’ve got to do what you think is best to help the team win. And I feel like that’s what we did tonight. We came up short, but obviously, when you’re missing a guy like Bron, you’re not going to fill that with one person,” AR told the media in the locker room after the game.

“You have to try to fill that. I need to do something a little better, Luka needs to do something a little better, Rui’s got to pitch in a little more. But like I said, you can’t do what he does with one person. If I was LeBron James, I probably would have retired by now. But yeah, he’s one of the greatest players to ever touch a basketball. So you have to do it as a collective group,” Reaves concluded.

This wasn’t an age slander or a hit at King James’ continuity in the league, even on an expiring contract. Instead, Austin Reaves simply praised his longevity and claimed that he wouldn’t have been able to do this for so long. Quite an unusual way to honor your team’s ace, especially after a loss…

LeBron James has been the heartbeat of LA since joining the Lakers in 2018, leading them to glory in 2020. The offseason chatter about a potential move made noise, but the 40-year-old remains loyal to Purple and Gold. After tying Vince Carter with 22 NBA seasons, James exercised his $52.6 million player option, stepping into his record 23rd year, a legacy few can only dream of touching.

However, the legend now faces a brief pause, as mild nerve irritation has evolved into sciatica. Thus, forcing James to the sidelines for three to four more weeks. Though he no longer dominates with the same load he once carried, his brilliance still fuels the Lakers’ championship hopes. Now, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are the center of all plans and strategies, while Bron takes a side seat.

Interestingly enough, Tuesday’s game night at Crypto.com Arena narrates a familiar story. The LA side was 6-6 without their ace last season. They’re already 0-1 in this campaign, and we cannot say for sure that the buck stops there. The stats showcase the hole the Akron Hammer has left behind. Well, surely, this isn’t what JJ Redick had planned for his boys. But sadly, the Golden State Warriors were heavy on the Lakers.

LeBron James’ absence exposed loopholes in the Lakers’ gameplay vs. the Warriors

Although they shot a sharp 54.5% from the field, their 25% from three and 60.7% from the charity stripe narrated another story. The 19 turnovers and 21 personal fouls hurt them deeply as the Golden State Warriors punished every mistake with an 89.7% free-throw rhythm that tilted the game’s balance.

Even with 39 rebounds and 62 points in the paint, the Lakers lacked James’ steadying presence. The Warriors looked cleaner and quicker with 29 assists, 10 steals, and 17 threes at 42.5%. Their 40 rebounds, including nine on offense, showcased hunger and precision. Meanwhile, LA searched for direction. Without King James guiding the tempo, control slipped, and the cracks in their structure became impossible to hide, especially in the third quarter.

Even kings need breathers, and this time, LeBron James watched from courtside. The Lakers felt the silence his presence once filled. The story may have tilted for now, but with LeBron James soon to rise again, Los Angeles still hums with the promise of redemption. An embarrassing streak, however, that JJ Redick highlighted after the previous game, needs to be broken at the earliest. We’re hoping for a better performance against the Timberwolves.