Former NBA star Jay Williams wants Lakers to shut down LeBron James on a season that most likely looks over for them

The Los Angeles Lakers are becoming very one dimension with every passing day. Their overdependence on LeBron James is very much evident. LeBron despite his age has been head and shoulders above everyone else in the Lakers roster.

Former players and analysts have criticised the Lakers for their lack of fight apart from LeBron and how the Akron Hammer has had to play 40 minutes or more in every game nowadays to ensure that Frank Vogel’s men put up a decent fight.

The Purple and Gold Army are currently ninth in the Western Conference with an underwhelming record of 29-39. If things don’t get better from here the Lakers will go down and will not even get a shot at the play-ins.

Speaking about the Lakers former NBA player Jay Williams shared how the Lakers are absolutely going nowhere this season and also wants Vogel to take care of LeBron and not overwork him like he is doing right now.

On ESPN’s “Get Up,” Williams said, “For me, I don’t understand why LeBron James is playing 40 minutes a night. This team has shown no fight, no determination. LeBron is frustrated. They’re going to bring AD (Anthony Davis) back with a history of being injured off an ankle injury and expect him to be the difference-maker and try to play him what, 35 or 40 minutes a night?”

Williams feels that the Lakers are already done for this season so he wants Vogel to consider playing younger players. He also suggests how there is no sense of urgency among the players and it looks very dull for the Lakers this season.

“This is a team that’s already checked out. I think that’s why you’re seeing the frustration on LeBron James’ face. There is not a sense of urgency. It doesn’t permeate across the team to all the players. If you minimize LeBron James’ minutes, you think about AD more long term, let Russell (Westbrook), let some of your younger players play,” Williams added.

LeBron James even at the age of 37 is outperforming everyone at the Lakers. But Williams has a point that there is no point in playing LeBron for long stretches when there is hardly anything to achieve in the current campaign. At age 37, James is averaging 29.7 points, 8.2 rebounds and 6.2 assists while shooting 52.3%, including 36.2% from beyond the arc.

The signing of Russell Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony and others were done to ease LeBron James out this season. But that has not gone on to plan as the workload for LeBron has only increased this season. Recently the absence of big man Anthony Davis has also made life difficult for the Akron Hammer.