Following LeBron James’s missed final shot in the Los Angeles Lakers‘ 100-97 loss to the Charlotte Hornets, a statistic highlighting James’s clutch performance—or lack thereof—circulated widely on social media. Despite missing two potential game-tying three-point attempts in the Lakers’ final possessions, Luka Dončić publicly expressed his support for James taking those shots. Nevertheless, this game underscores a broader trend: as noted by ESPN’s The Get Up (via X, formerly Twitter), James has struggled considerably with game-tying or go-ahead shot attempts in the final five seconds of regulation or overtime throughout his tenure with the Lakers.
LeBron James Closeout Shooting May Bite The Los Angeles Lakers When They Need It The Most
James’s struggles in late-game situations are underscored by his record of just one successful shot out of 29 attempts with five or fewer seconds remaining on the clock. In Wednesday’s loss, he hit a 28-foot three-pointer with 6.1 seconds left, narrowing the Lakers’ deficit to one point (98-97). Following two made free throws by LaMelo Ball, which extended the Hornets’ lead to three (100-97), James had another chance. However, he missed two three-point attempts in the final five seconds, including a second 28-foot attempt that was actually closer than his first.
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James finished with a team-high 26 points on 10-of-22 attempts, including 4-of-11 from deep, 11 assists, seven rebounds, and two blocks, but it was his pair of threes that was the talking point after the loss. After shooting guard Austin Reaves was ejected from the game in the third quarter, head coach JJ Redick turned to LeBron down the stretch, who struggled to get the ball through the hoop on two attempts in the game’s last five seconds.