It’s truly astounding to consider that since LeBron James strolled across the NBA draft stage two decades ago, he’s consistently been his team’s top performer. He approaches 39 in just over a month. Many had anticipated that 2023 would mark the moment when he finally relinquishes the Los Angeles Lakers’ leadership role to teammate Anthony Davis. However, in the initial 13 games of the season, the King surprisingly continues to maintain his supremacy.

Davis possesses bewildering talent. As the leader in blocks per game in the league (3.3), he by far stands as the premier defender globally. Moreover, he holds the top position in numerous offensive criteria from the post. If you were to count the number of players superior to him when he’s at his peak, you would have multiple fingers remaining. Most people would argue that the big man outperforms James at their optimum level.

Unfortunately, AD’s offensive output fluctuates more than a rollercoaster. In the Lakers’ initial encounter with the Sacramento Kings, the former Kentucky Wildcat notched 30 points and collected 16 rebounds. In the subsequent match, he failed to reach double-digit points or boards.

The Lakers prolonged Davis’s tenure through the 2027-28 season with the most substantial annual remuneration for a specific reason: to assume the primary position from James. Nevertheless, Davis’s erratic productivity has compelled the Lakers to persist in relying on James despite his age.

Time seems to have made an exception for James. He currently averages 26.4/8.2/6.5 on an astounding 58.6/39.7/69.1 shooting split. Davis must play catch-up if he aspires to claim the top spot. 22/11.7/3.3 on 53/30/86.3 shooting splits is commendable, but falls short of being the Lakers’ premier player.

Everyone had concurred that James would continue to be the Lakers’ foremost distributor. However, not many had foreseen him persevering as the LakeShow’s primary scorer at 38 years of age. In the recent 105-104 win against the Houston Rockets, James delivered a season-high 37 points with an exceptionally efficient 74 FG%. Davis’s 27 points placed him as the game’s second-highest scorer, but fouls prematurely removed him from pivotal situations.

The disparity in offensive output between the pair was conspicuously clearer in the preceding 107-95 win in Portland. James amassed 35 points, doubling Davis’s 16.

Can you fathom that James has achieved 28 points or more six times this month? What is truly incredulous is that Davis has failed to surpass 20 points on five occasions this month. The Brow exhibits exceptional defense and is capable of star-level offense, but James never reaches the same offensive lows as his counterpart. The Lakers are aware of what to anticipate from James on a nightly basis, but take a leap of faith with the big man.

The early-season narrative of the Lakers depicts the team as non-functional in the absence of James on the court. He maintained a 25.6 +/- net per 100 possessions in his initial 12 games. Without the King on the court, the Laker offense struggles to maneuver the ball in the half-court or push in transition.

It’s not as if the Lakers lack the personnel to thrive without James orchestrating proceedings. However, Davis’s inconsistent offensive assertiveness invites adversaries to go on a scoring spree. James was substituted with 4:29 left in the first quarter while the Lakers led by 13 points in Portland. The Blazers seemed utterly outmatched but garnered momentum with a 15-4 run in the subsequent six minutes. Davis failed to score during this surge.

What ultimately distinguishes James from Davis is James’s proficiency in sealing games. The Clutch Player of the Year accolade could very well be added to James’s illustrious collection because he reigns supreme in the fourth quarter. He leads the league with an average of 9.2 points per fourth quarter on a 66.1 FG%.

In the Lakers’ recent two contests, the team necessitated asserting dominance in the final quarter with Davis sidelined due to foul trouble. This predicament might pose a challenge for most players, but not for James.

James accumulated 14 points in the fourth quarter against the Rockets, including the game-winning free throw. Davis registered zero points in the quarter.

Portland cut the lead to 7 heading into the 4th quarter. Here’s every 4th quarter score for the Lakers…

LeBron ASSISTLeBron 3PLeBron ASSISTLeBron ASSISTLeBron ASSISTLeBron ASSISTLeBron ASSISTReddish 2PLeBron 2PLeBron FT’sLeBron ASSISTLeBron ASSIST

Game Over.

— ɴᴏᴛ (@georgemikan) November 18, 2023

To secure victory against the Blazers, James exhibited a masterful offensive display. No one present could impede him from scoring or assisting on 23 out of 25 Laker points in the fourth quarter. This performance surely triggered flashbacks for Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups. 16 years earlier, James orchestrated a similar feat by scoring the Cleveland Cavaliers’ last 25 points to triumph in Game 5 of the 2007 Eastern Conference Finals against Billups’ Detroit Pistons. Even after 16 years, James still dominates the final quarter.

On Tuesday, the Lakers will host the 4-9 Utah Jazz. This presents an opportunity for Davis to silence his critics by demonstrating some consistency. A 30-point and 12-rebound performance would be optimal. However, another underwhelming offensive outing would further substantiate why LeBron remains the Lakers’ preeminent player.