2025-26 Season
LEBRON JAMES
2025-26 Season
LEBRON JAMES
James produces at an elite rate for a 34-minute workload.
James produces at an elite rate for a 34-minute workload.
PBP Credit: Every play is analyzed from play-by-play data. Scorers get difficulty-adjusted credit, assisters get creation value based on the shot opportunity they created, and turnovers are classified by type. Shot difficulty is derived from 1M+ shots across 4 seasons. Full methodology
TEAM COMPARISON
of 15 teammates (10+ games, 10+ min)
Similar Players
Same position, closest production profile this season.
SKILL DNA
Percentile rank vs 235 Forwards with 10+ games
THE SEASON SO FAR
LeBron James's early 2025-26 campaign was defined by a stark contrast between lazy perimeter settling and masterful offensive orchestration. During a disastrous 12/02 vs PHX matchup, he looked completely disengaged, posting a dismal -8.8 impact score while clanking contested jumpers and grabbing zero rebounds. He can still dictate a game without a heavy scoring load, however, as seen in the 11/19 vs UTA contest. He earned a +5.2 impact score despite tallying just 11 points because his elite court vision yielded 12 assists. Yet his bad habits occasionally returned. In the 12/31 vs DET game, a -1.8 impact score accurately punished him for chucking ten three-pointers instead of attacking the paint. When he avoids falling in love with his outside shot, James remains an utterly terrifying maestro who controls the entire geometry of the floor.
This twenty-game stretch revealed an aging superstar carefully picking his spots, oscillating between vintage offensive dominance and nights where tired legs clearly compromised his overall value. He set the tone immediately on 01/16 vs CHA, pouring in 29 points on 10-of-19 shooting to generate a massive +31.9 impact score. That dominant rating stemmed from highly efficient shot selection and suffocating defensive effort rather than just empty box-score stuffing. The physical toll of the long season, however, frequently reared its head, most notably on 02/07 vs GSW. Despite a highly productive-looking 20 points and 10 assists, he posted a -3.2 impact score because those raw numbers were heavily taxed by erratic perimeter shooting and sluggish defensive rotations. Conversely, he still found ways to win on the margins during a quiet 02/26 vs PHX matchup. He managed a +4.8 impact despite scoring just 15 points, relying entirely on relentless hustle plays and smart defensive positioning to tilt the floor when his jumper refused to fall.
LeBron James spent this late-season stretch operating less like a traditional volume scorer and more like a surgical game manager who completely dictated the pace of play. When he decided to hunt his own shot, the results were devastating. Look no further than 03/18 vs HOU, where he dropped 30 points on a near-flawless 13-of-14 shooting performance. That ruthless shot selection generated a massive +25.3 Impact score, as he punished the defense by refusing to settle for low-percentage jumpers. Even when his scoring output dipped, his overall value remained immense. During 03/19 vs MIA, he scored a modest 19 points but still posted a +15.7 Impact score by bullying his way to 15 rebounds and orchestrating the offense with 10 assists. Pushing his aging body too far occasionally backfired, though. Logging a grueling 40 minutes on 03/14 vs DEN resulted in a sluggish -2.4 Impact score, as physical fatigue led to defensive lapses and empty offensive possessions.
IMPACT TIMELINE
Game-by-game performance vs average. Green = above average, red = below.
Very consistent. James posts positive impact in 83% of games — you almost always get a productive night. Scoring varies by ~6 points, but the overall contribution stays positive.
Reliable shooter — hits 45%+ from the field in 70% of games. You can count on efficient nights more often than not.
Defensive difference-maker. James consistently forces tough shots and protects the rim — opponents shoot worse when he's guarding them.
Hot right now — 6 straight games with positive impact. Longest positive run this season: 12 games.
MATCHUP HISTORY ⚠ Updated 46 days ago
Based on 56 games with tracking data. Shows who guarded this player on offense and who he guarded on defense, with their shooting stats in those matchups.
ON OFFENSE: WHO GUARDED HIM
His shooting stats against each primary defender this season
ON DEFENSE: WHO HE GUARDED
How opponents shot when he was the primary defender. Lower FG% = better defense.
SEASON STATS
GAME LOG
70 games played
