Since the LA Lakers’ season opener against the Golden State Warriors, something has felt different about LeBron James. Though sidelined, Jovan Buha pointed out how unusually reserved he appeared. For a player known for constant leadership and on-court direction, James mostly observed without stepping in. That same hands-off approach has persisted even after he returned to the lineup.

Notably, according to Lakers insider Andy Kamenetzky, the Akron Hammer is “disengaged” from the Lakers.

“It’s not anything in terms of like a big stink or like a big drama created. But it’s things that add up,” Kamenetzky said on Locked on Lakers.

“Truth be told, it’s an honor to play on Christmas, but I’d rather be at home, or I’m not really watching basketball these days in my free time; I watch golf. LeBron used to be a basketball junkie. He used to watch this stuff constantly,” Kamenetzky further said.

And it isn’t just a change in mannerisms. The longtime Lakers reporter also feels Rich Paul conveying concerns about the Lakers’ roster and doubting their competitive strength points to a dissatisfied LeBron James. That tension between the front office and James has been building up since the offseason.

Rumors had the 41-year-old possibly leaving LA as a free agent. Furthermore, with Luka Doncic established as the talisman, James has to take a back seat from his usual team management standards.

For his part, before Doncic came along, he was willing to take a significant pay cut to open up financial flexibility for the Lakers. However, the team couldn’t sign any coveted free agents, losing Klay Thompson to Dallas. Hence, the four-time MVP may hold some frustrations.

The Lakers did make key moves this offseason, but none of them made them convincingly better. Their defense remains shaky, and in Year 23, LeBron James is adapting to a secondary role. However, the bigger concern is what could this lead to?

Does LeBron James want out?

Rich Paul reveals LeBron James’ trade stance

Speaking about James’ body language, his former teammate Kendrick Perkins sees his demeanor as a reflection of his commitment. According to Perk, James and Rich Paul both feel the Lakers’ roster isn’t “good enough” to compete. That leaves a trade as the only way to settle the flare-up between the two sides.

But for now, that doesn’t seem to be on the cards. When asked about James moving on from the Lakers this season, Paul said “no”. However, he didn’t completely shut out the possibility, having previously said they would evaluate what’s best for his future.

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From where things stand right now, it’s not just LeBron James’ demeanor that’s concerning. The Lakers have been unstable, losing four of their last five after a hot start to the season. Head coach JJ Redick explained they are still searching for their identity after a blowout loss against the Detroit Pistons.

The culmination of all of those factors could be the reason there’s a dark cloud of uncertainty looming over the franchise. Because from a production standpoint, James is giving them 20.3 points per game. He’s not allowing his feelings to impact the game. But the Lakers have dealt with injury troubles, forcing a constant change in lineups, which further delays sharpening the system.

At the core, everybody on the Lakers wants to win, LeBron James more than anything. So once that domino falls into place, the mood around the building should improve. If not, this is most likely James’ last season with the franchise. So it’s about making the most out of what’s left.

Do you think the Lakers can turn their season around? Let us know your views in the comments below.