2025-26 Season
LEBRON JAMES
2025-26 Season
LEBRON JAMES
James produces at an above average rate for a 33-minute workload. 2.9 turnovers per game cost 5.7 points of value nightly.
About this model: Net Impact can't measure floor spacing, help defense rotations, or playmaking gravity — so wings and guards are slightly undervalued vs bigs. How Net Impact works
TEAM COMPARISON
of 14 teammates (10+ games, 10+ min)
SKILL DNA
Percentile rank vs 227 Forwards with 10+ games
THE SEASON SO FAR
A stark tale of two seasons defined LeBron James’s first twenty games, beginning with a lethargic slump before erupting into a relentless downhill assault. During a disastrous 12/01 vs PHX matchup, he managed just 10 points while posting a brutal -17.8 impact score, dragged down heavily by poor shot selection and a glaring lack of defensive engagement. Even when his scoring volume rebounded on 01/12 vs SAC with 22 points, his overall impact cratered to -4.4 because persistent perimeter struggles actively stalled the offense. He simply had to stop settling. He flipped the script entirely on 12/20 vs LAC, dropping 36 points and generating a massive +13.7 impact by abandoning contested jumpers in favor of aggressive downhill attacks and elite defensive metrics. By trading lazy perimeter habits for physical bully-ball drives and masterful half-court orchestration, the veteran transformed back into an unstoppable offensive engine.
A frustrating pattern of hidden costs and careless execution defined this erratic mid-season stretch for LeBron James. Even when his raw passing numbers looked robust, sluggish transition defense and sloppy ball security frequently dragged his actual value into the red. Look no further than the 02/05 vs PHI matchup. A seemingly respectable 17-point, 10-assist double-double masked a disastrous -19.9 impact score fueled by forced perimeter jumpers and brutal turnovers. He could still flip the switch when fully engaged, generating a massive +17.1 impact on 02/03 vs BKN through dominant interior scoring and exceptional defensive rotations. James also found ways to salvage value on off nights, like his performance on 02/22 vs BOS. Despite clanking his way to a 9-for-21 shooting night, high-level playmaking and elite defensive effort insulated his overall rating to earn a +8.3 impact.
IMPACT TIMELINE
Game-by-game performance vs average. Green = above average, red = below.
Boom-or-bust player. James's impact swings wildly relative to his average — some nights dominant, others invisible. Scoring varies by ~6 points per game.
Reliable shooter — hits 45%+ from the field in 73% 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.
Small downward trend. First-half impact: +2.2, second-half: +0.4. Not alarming yet, but trending the wrong direction.
Tends to go on runs. Longest hot streak: 4 games. Longest cold streak: 6 games.
MATCHUP HISTORY
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
56 games played