NBA Insider: Lakers Won't Be Consistent Contender Until LeBron James Retires

The Los Angeles Lakers have already dealt with highs and lows amid their inconsistent 13-11 start to the 2024-25 season, and a team source gave an interesting theory on what's holding the roster back.

Per Steve Bulpett of Heavy.com, a source close to the situation said that the Lakers won't be able to return to title contention until star forward LeBron James decides to end his legendary career.

"Until LeBron leaves, it's not going to be a good job, you know?" the source continued. "You're going to be held to a standard that isn't realistic. LeBron's almost 40, man, c'mon. He can still do great things because he's freakin' LeBron. But in terms of getting that team to be good consistently for a period of years — a contender — it's not going to happen with how it's set up now."

The Lakers ended a three-game losing streak with Sunday's win over the Portland Trail Blazers. It was the first game James missed this year, as foot soreness kept him on the sideline. ESPN's Shams Charania and Dave McMenamin reported that the 39-year-old is "unlikely to play" in Friday's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

After winning the NBA championship in 2020, Los Angeles has been unable to make it back to the NBA Finals. The team was eliminated from the playoffs in the first round twice in the last four years and missed the postseason entirely in 2021-22. First-year head coach JJ Redick is the team's third coach in the last four years following the firings of Frank Vogel and Darvin Ham.

The source made it clear that they believe the window has closed on James and Anthony Davis being able to lead the Lakers to another championship.

"They took their shot these last couple of years, and it didn't work. They have to be honest," the source said. "Two stars weren't enough with what they had around them. It wasn't a coaching thing. It almost never is."