ATLANTA — Kyle Kuzma had his first interplay with LeBron James a bit greater than a 12 months in the past, when Kuzma was a first-year ahead with the Los Angeles Lakers and James was a couple of months from dragging the Cleveland Cavaliers to a different look within the N.B.A. finals. Kuzma had reached out by cellphone, hoping for some suggestions.
“Simply needed to see how one of many greats takes care of his physique and has a lot longevity,” Kuzma recalled this week in an interview. “Everyone needs to play basketball for so long as attainable.”
A lot has modified since that preliminary dialog. Kuzma and James are teammates now, and Kuzma is experiencing the distinctive challenges that include enjoying alongside one of many recreation’s behemoths. On the identical time, James’s physique lastly betrayed him this season, which has solely heightened the sense of urgency throughout the group: The Lakers, who’ve missed the playoffs for 5 years operating, usually are not in place for a affected person rebuild.
James, at 34, should be in his prime, however the stakes are already excessive for a franchise that desperately needs to maximise his time in Los Angeles. And whereas neither James nor Lakers administration has proven a lot enthusiasm for coaxing alongside a younger core — the Lakers tried to ship half the roster to New Orleans final week — they’re caught on this collectively. James was imagined to be the savior of a flagship franchise gone astray; salvaging the ultimate months of this 12 months could be a key indicator that he nonetheless wields that sort of energy.
“We now have to strategy the remainder of the season identical to you’d throughout the playoffs,” Kuzma mentioned.
As Kuzma recalled his discuss with James, he had no means of figuring out that the Lakers have been mere hours from struggling one ultimate implosion earlier than the N.B.A. All-Star break — a 117-113 loss to the Atlanta Hawks that left the workforce with a dropping document and ample alternative for soul looking.
“It’s time for us to get away and mirror a bit bit about the place we’re as a bunch,” Coach Luke Walton mentioned. “I believe this primary a part of the season, we’ve gone by means of plenty of adversity. And we’re most likely not the place we wish to be, however we’re nonetheless shut sufficient.”
Shut sufficient, that’s, for vying for a spot within the playoffs, which was each a sign of the workforce’s modest objectives and its unhappy actuality. At 28-29, the Lakers are in 10th place within the Western Convention standings. It’s unfamiliar territory for James, who has not been on a dropping workforce this late in a season since he was a first-year ahead with the Cavaliers.
“However with LeBron in your workforce, something is feasible,” mentioned Mychal Thompson, an influence ahead for the “Showtime”-era Lakers and an analyst for the workforce’s radio broadcasts. “I imply, have a look at a number of the groups he’s taken to the finals — together with final season. He’s able to doing nice issues in the event you simply get on board and run with him.”
The Lakers, although, appear fragile after practically 5 months of drama — all of it stemming immediately or not directly from the $154 million deal that James signed to hitch the workforce final summer season. The strain was on from the beginning, and little has gone in line with plan.
“There’s been extra noise this 12 months,” Walton mentioned, “however that was to be anticipated with the strikes within the low season. That was one thing to be anticipated.”
The place to start? Brandon Ingram and Rajon Rondo have been suspended for attempting to brawl with the Houston Rockets two video games into the season. Magic Johnson, the workforce’s outspoken president of basketball operations, chastised Walton in a closed-door assembly for the workforce’s gradual begin, igniting lasting questions on Walton’s job safety. Practically each participant on the roster has been injured, and that features James, who missed 17 video games with a strained groin.
And lest we overlook: Final week, Johnson and Basic Supervisor Rob Pelinka tried to commerce away practically half the roster to the New Orleans Pelicans for Anthony Davis, who, earlier than the beginning of the season, employed the identical agent who represents James. It was the clearest signal but that Johnson is prepared to aim the very boldest strikes — irrespective of the residual harm.
Take into account that the Lakers, amid their finally fruitless effort to pry Davis away from the Pelicans, misplaced by 42 factors to the Indiana Pacers. And with rumors of which Lakers could be traded swirling by means of social media, it was tough to search out arguments of their protection — even from James himself.
Kuzma, who was provided up as one of many items in a possible deal, mentioned it had been tough to drown out the noise.
“It’s positively powerful,” he mentioned, “as a result of this technology, you’re all the time in your cellphone, all the time on social media, all the time seeing it someplace on TV.”
However the commerce deadline handed, and the roster kind of remained intact. There had been a way {that a} stunning win towards the Boston Celtics on Feb. 7 would impress the workforce within the wake of a lot uncertainty. And even after dropping to the Philadelphia 76ers three days later, the Lakers nonetheless had an opportunity to construct some momentum towards the Hawks on Tuesday.
Earlier than the sport, James gave the impression to be in an upbeat temper. Within the locker room, he knelt on a large inflatable ball as he labored on some core-strengthening workout routines. He crooned the lyrics to “Plug Stroll” by the hip-hop artist Wealthy the Child. He made small discuss with Ingram. It was all classic James.
About three hours later, as soon as the Lakers’ had punctuated their loss with a turnover, James made a beeline off the court docket and into the tunnel. He was virtually steaming. He had completed together with his fifth triple-double of the season — 28 factors, 16 assists, 11 rebounds — however the Lakers’ protection was as porous as a espresso filter, and the outcome was simply as messy.
“I can throw that recreation within the trash,” James mentioned.
In a three-minute postgame session with reporters, Kuzma talked about the idea of “enjoyable” 5 instances — particularly, the notion that the Lakers weren’t having a lot of it.
“A whole lot of instances we’re on the market with unhappy faces, very centered faces,” Kuzma mentioned. “However I believe we’re at our greatest once we’re having enjoyable.”
Enjoyable might not be the first goal for James, and the psychic results of the loss are certain to linger till not less than Feb. 21, when their season will resume after the all-star break with a house recreation towards the Houston Rockets. For now, although, the most effective factor for these gamers could also be to be away from one another for some time, which was one in every of Walton’s recommendations earlier than they parted for the break.
“Spend a while by your self,” he mentioned, and added: “I believe we’ve bought a bunch that will probably be prepared by the point we get again.”