LeBron James, Third Option? Stephen A. Might Be Right.

Stephen A. Smith dropped a take this week that, for once, actually made me pause. "We've never seen LeBron James as a third option," he said, talking about the Lakers' current dynamic. And you know what? He’s not wrong. Not entirely, anyway. We’re so used to LeBron being *the* guy, the primary ball-handler, the undisputed alpha. For two decades, it’s been his show.

Think about it. Even in Miami, Dwyane Wade was still in his prime, but by the end, it was clearly James' team. In Cleveland, Kyrie Irving had moments, but LeBron ran everything. Now, at 39, with Anthony Davis dominating and D'Angelo Russell hitting big shots, James is often the third scoring option. On March 16th against the Warriors, Davis had 27 points, Russell dropped 26, and James finished with 23. That’s a stat line that would've been unthinkable for him a few years ago. In the Lakers' 128-124 overtime win against Milwaukee on March 26th, Russell led the team with 44 points, Davis had 27, and James chipped in 20. He was literally the third option in the box score, too.

This isn't about a decline, not really. James is still putting up absurd numbers for his age: 25.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 8.1 assists per game this season. Those are All-NBA caliber stats for most players. But the *way* he’s getting them has shifted. He’s deferring more, picking his spots, and letting Davis and Russell initiate the offense far more frequently. It’s a subtle but significant change. He’s not forcing the issue every possession like he used to. He’s playing off the ball more, setting screens, making the extra pass.

**The Evolution of a Superstar**

We’ve seen players age out of their prime, sure. Michael Jordan in Washington, Kobe Bryant in his final seasons – they were still stars, but the dynamic was different. What makes James unique is how willingly he seems to embrace this new role. He’s not sulking, he’s not demanding the ball. He’s facilitating, he’s leading, and he’s still making game-winning plays when needed, like that clutch block against the Bucks on March 26th that preserved the win. That's leadership. That's a guy who understands the goal is winning, not just padding his own stats.

Look, I’ve been critical of James over the years. His passive-aggressive social media posts, the occasional eye-rolls when things go south. But this season, you can’t deny his commitment to making this Lakers team work. He’s adjusted. He’s let others shine. On February 28th, when Russell dropped 44 points against the Kings, James was arguably his biggest cheerleader on the bench. You don’t see that from a guy obsessed with being the top dog.

Here's the thing: this version of LeBron, the one who occasionally takes a backseat, is actually more dangerous for opponents. They can’t just focus on stopping him. They have to contend with Davis’s interior dominance and Russell’s perimeter scoring, knowing James is lurking, ready to exploit any defensive breakdown. It’s a more balanced attack, and it makes the Lakers a tougher out in the playoffs. My hot take? This "third option" LeBron is the most valuable version of him for the Lakers right now, even if it's less flashy. It makes everyone else better.

The Lakers aren't perfect, not by a long shot. But they’re playing their best basketball of the season at the right time. And a big part of that is James' willingness to adapt. If they make a deep playoff run, and I think they will, a lot of the credit needs to go to the guy who learned how to share the spotlight.