The margin for patience in Los Angeles is shrinking fast, and this time, it’s not aimed at role players or rotations. Even with LeBron James and Luka Doncic combining for 68 points, the Los Angeles Lakers were run off the floor in a stunning 135–117 loss to the Charlotte Hornets. It marked Los Angeles’ fourth loss in five games, and for the first time this season, the backlash turned sharply toward the face of the franchise.

This wasn’t just about the score. It was about effort, optics, and a late-game sequence that ignited a fanbase already on edge. With 1:51 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Lakers still had a window. James missed a deep pull-up three, but Jarred Vanderbilt grabbed the offensive rebound and kicked it out to Doncic. Surrounded by the paint, Doncic swung the ball back to James as the shot clock dwindled.

James hesitated, then drove into traffic. Brandon Miller stripped him clean. What followed mattered more than the turnover.

James didn’t sprint back. He didn’t recover the ball. Charlotte moved it effortlessly, and LaMelo Ball buried a wide-open three with no contest. The possession miss, turnover, and no defensive recovery encapsulated everything fans were furious about.

Even head coach JJ Redick reacted, pulling James shortly after and inserting Dalton Knecht. It was James’ final action of the night.

Statistically, James delivered. He finished with 29 points, 19 of them in the second half, pushing the Lakers in a brief comeback attempt. But the other end of the floor told a harsher story.

Los Angeles allowed Charlotte to shoot 54.3 percent from the field and 46.5 percent from three, getting out-rebounded 50–35. The Hornets torched them for 34 points in the second quarter alone, flipping the game’s momentum early and never relinquishing control.

Ball dominated with 30 points and 11 assists, drilling nine threes. Miller, Miles Bridges, and rookie Kon Knueppel combined for 70 points, overwhelming a Lakers defense that looked slow and disconnected.

James’ advanced metrics only fueled the criticism. His defensive rating sits at 117.2, the worst of his 23-year career, while his net rating of -1.7 is the lowest among Lakers starters. For a team already dead last in opponent three-point percentage allowed, fans see those numbers as confirmation, not coincidence.

Despite scoring, LeBron James receives no sympathy

Seeing the entire sequence, where King James was inactive for close to 10 seconds, a fan bluntly wrote, “Lebron so lazy on D 😭.” His defensive rating of 117.2 doesn’t inspire much confidence. That is the worst defensive rating of his 23-year NBA career. His net rating of -1.7 is the worst among the other starters on the team. Naturally, fans expect more.

“Time to go bro @KingJames give it up bro you got nothing more to show you did it we get it time to let go.” When he opted into his $52.6 million contract, the expectation for year 23 was very high. However, a 13-9 record doesn’t necessarily reflect his importance or ability as a leader. In 22 games this season, he has 58 turnovers, giving it away far too easily.

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A fan called it out, “Where is the bag? Why does he keep turning the ball over in crucial moments? Why does he not get back on D? Why are the Lakers trash since he came back?” With Luka Doncic known to handle the ball, maybe it’s time for the Slovenian to handle it full-time. A netizen commented, “Its no coincidence anymore Also the fact that everyone started playing utterly shit when he came back.”

The entire team appears to be struggling with a defensive identity issue. They are dead last in allowing teams from 3-point range. But when it comes to LeBron, he has had his struggles in different games. “Lebron is just out there to get his stat line,” a fan commented. “He doesn’t care about winning and never has. Thats the difference between him and MJ. When MJ was averaging 37, he realized that to win, his team needed to be more involved, and his stats went down. That’s why he has 6 rings, and LeBron has 4.”

Even in the 119-96 loss to the Rockets, LeBron James recorded a shocking stat of plus-minus of -33, meaning the Lakers were outscored by 33 points with him on the court. That’s why a netizen put some blame on King James.