LeBron James
LAL · 2025-26Primary starterHigh evidenceWhat does LeBron James actually supply on the floor?
LeBron James's strongest evidenced functions are passing, creation, interior finishing; the weakest available areas are shooting, rebounding, rim protection. The profile is tied to LAL for 2025-26.
Function profile
2025-26 — eleven separate readings on a league scale. They are not additive.* limited evidence for that function. A dash means the evidence was insufficient — not a zero. Use the separate function strengths to evaluate role and roster fit; do not treat them as one player-value score. POA or switch conclusions require lineup, matchup, and assignment evidence beyond this profile.
Season by season
Every governed season profile on record.| Season | Team | Role | Evidence | Creation | Rim pressure | Shooting | Passing | Screening | Interior finish | Point of attack | Switch coverage | Rim protection | Event creation | Rebounding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | LAL | Primary starter | High evidence | 78 | 69 | 41 | 79 | — | 72 | — | — | 57 | 59 | 50 |
| 2024-25 | LAL | — | High evidence | 81 | 71 | 65 | 84 | 42 | 68 | 50 | 55 | 46 | 46 | 56 |
| 2023-24 | LAL | — | High evidence | 81 | 74 | 72 | 83 | 58 | 70 | 57 | 59 | 47 | 56 | 59 |
| 2022-23 | LAL | — | High evidence | 70 | 75 | 47 | 75 | 54 | 74 | 43 | 40 | 61 | 43 | 67 |
| 2021-22 | LAL | — | High evidence | 73 | 76 | 60 | 75 | 59 | 77 | 50 | 49 | 66 | 63 | 59 |
| 2020-21 | LAL | — | High evidence | 72 | 74 | 57 | 76 | 43 | 67 | 58 | 59 | 55 | 54 | 50 |
| 2019-20 | LAL | — | High evidence | 90 | 73 | 54 | 89 | — | 66 | — | — | 49 | 60 | 59 |
| 2018-19 | LAL | — | High evidence | 85 | 77 | 52 | 84 | — | 73 | — | — | 57 | 65 | 59 |
| 2017-18 | CLE | — | High evidence | 88 | 79 | 61 | 85 | — | 74 | — | — | 70 | 72 | 63 |
| 2016-17 | CLE | — | High evidence | 87 | 77 | 62 | 85 | — | 71 | — | — | 57 | 59 | 70 |
| 2015-16 | CLE | — | Limited evidence | 90 | 80 | 44 | 83 | — | — | — | — | 62 | 70 | — |
| 2014-15 | CLE | — | Limited evidence | 90 | 84 | 60 | 85 | — | — | — | — | 52 | 77 | — |
| 2013-14 | MIA | — | Limited evidence | 87 | 83 | 68 | 83 | — | — | — | — | 50 | 68 | — |
What teams depended on him for
Seasons where a team's situation report named him a dependency case.LAL did not have strong functional backup for LeBron James in passing; removing him cost about 29.1% of the team's production in that area. The next observed option was Luka Doncic.
Replacement evidence
Marcus Smart · Deandre Ayton · Luka Doncic · Rui Hachimura · Austin Reaves
shrunk net 6.9440 over 219 possessions
on floor 4314 possessions · off floor 3602 possessions
LAL did not have enough reliable function-loss evidence to judge dependence on LeBron James.
Replacement evidence
No replacement lineup is supported by the available evidence.
on floor 4662 possessions · off floor 2622 possessions
LAL was highly dependent on LeBron James. Removing him cost about 33.3% of passing production, and lineups with him performed 7.1 points per 100 possessions better than lineups without him. The best supported replacement group was [Anthony Davis, D'Angelo Russell, Taurean Prince, Rui Hachimura, Austin Reaves] over 192 possessions.
Replacement evidence
Anthony Davis · D'Angelo Russell · Taurean Prince · Rui Hachimura · Austin Reaves
shrunk net 0.8470 over 192 possessions
on floor 5233 possessions · off floor 2812 possessions
LAL did not have enough reliable function-loss evidence to judge dependence on LeBron James.
Replacement evidence
Anthony Davis · D'Angelo Russell · Malik Beasley · Troy Brown Jr. · Jarred Vanderbilt
shrunk net -3.6240 over 165 possessions
on floor 4791 possessions · off floor 3954 possessions
LAL did not have a sufficiently supported observed replacement lineup for LeBron James. The database keeps the functional-loss evidence but does not invent a replacement plan.
Replacement evidence
No replacement lineup is supported by the available evidence.
on floor 3858 possessions · off floor 3535 possessions
LAL did not have enough reliable function-loss evidence to judge dependence on LeBron James.
Replacement evidence
Marc Gasol · Markieff Morris · Dennis Schroder · Kentavious Caldwell-Pope · Kyle Kuzma
shrunk net -3.4660 over 163 possessions
on floor 3235 possessions · off floor 3734 possessions
LAL was highly dependent on LeBron James. Removing him cost about 52.9% of creation production, and lineups with him performed 8.7 points per 100 possessions better than lineups without him. The best supported replacement group was [Rajon Rondo, Anthony Davis, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Alex Caruso, Kyle Kuzma] over 223 possessions.
Replacement evidence
Rajon Rondo · Anthony Davis · Kentavious Caldwell-Pope · Alex Caruso · Kyle Kuzma
shrunk net 1.2230 over 223 possessions
on floor 5616 possessions · off floor 2379 possessions
LAL was highly dependent on LeBron James. Removing him cost about 29.0% of creation production, and lineups with him performed 6.2 points per 100 possessions better than lineups without him. The best supported replacement group was [JaVale McGee, Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, Josh Hart] over 168 possessions.
Replacement evidence
JaVale McGee · Brandon Ingram · Lonzo Ball · Kyle Kuzma · Josh Hart
shrunk net -6.0370 over 168 possessions
on floor 3768 possessions · off floor 3848 possessions
CLE did not have enough reliable function-loss evidence to judge dependence on LeBron James.
Replacement evidence
No replacement lineup is supported by the available evidence.
on floor 7108 possessions · off floor 1908 possessions
CLE did not have a sufficiently supported observed replacement lineup for LeBron James. The database keeps the functional-loss evidence but does not invent a replacement plan.
Replacement evidence
No replacement lineup is supported by the available evidence.
on floor 6301 possessions · off floor 2327 possessions
CLE did not have enough reliable function-loss evidence to judge dependence on LeBron James.
Replacement evidence
No replacement lineup is supported by the available evidence.
on floor 6087 possessions · off floor 2440 possessions
CLE did not have enough reliable function-loss evidence to judge dependence on LeBron James.
Replacement evidence
No replacement lineup is supported by the available evidence.
on floor 5686 possessions · off floor 2653 possessions
MIA did not have enough reliable function-loss evidence to judge dependence on LeBron James.
Replacement evidence
Ray Allen · Rashard Lewis · Chris Andersen · Dwyane Wade · Norris Cole
shrunk net 2.8010 over 213 possessions
on floor 6059 possessions · off floor 2050 possessions
Known contract calendar
Governed contract events naming this player — dates carry their honest quality.LeBron James has a reported contract-control horizon through the 2026 season. The June 30 date is a season-boundary planning proxy, not proof of exact free-agency status. The player is inside the two-season extension-review horizon, but exact eligibility and value are not certified.
LeBron James has a reported player option for the 2026 season at a reported $52,627,153. Player controls the option. The stored date is the CBA outside date; the contract may require an earlier decision.
LeBron James has a reported contract-control horizon through the 2026 season. The June 30 date is a season-boundary planning proxy, not proof of exact free-agency status. The player is inside the two-season extension-review horizon, but exact eligibility and value are not certified.
LeBron James has a reported contract-control horizon through the 2022 season. The June 30 date is a season-boundary planning proxy, not proof of exact free-agency status. The player is inside the two-season extension-review horizon, but exact eligibility and value are not certified.
LeBron James has a reported player option for the 2022 season at a reported $41,180,544. Player controls the option. The stored date is the CBA outside date; the contract may require an earlier decision.
LeBron James has a reported contract-control horizon through the 2022 season. The June 30 date is a season-boundary planning proxy, not proof of exact free-agency status. The player is inside the two-season extension-review horizon, but exact eligibility and value are not certified.
LeBron James has a reported player option for the 2022 season at a reported $41,180,544. Player controls the option. The stored date is the CBA outside date; the contract may require an earlier decision.
LeBron James has a reported contract-control horizon through the 2022 season. The June 30 date is a season-boundary planning proxy, not proof of exact free-agency status. The player is inside the two-season extension-review horizon, but exact eligibility and value are not certified.
LeBron James has a reported contract-control horizon through the 2019 season. The June 30 date is a season-boundary planning proxy, not proof of exact free-agency status. The player is inside the two-season extension-review horizon, but exact eligibility and value are not certified.
Function scores, roles, dependence records and contract events are separate evidence. No combined player value, trade value or ranking is computed from them, and none of them is a causal impact claim.