'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
LeBron James is not worried about the LA Lakers' slow start to the season. The Lakers are now 2-8 after losing to the Utah Jazz on Monday. James is in his 20th season and on the verge of becoming the league's all-time leading scorer.
In an interview with Jovan Buha of The Athletic, James was asked about the challenges for the Lakers this season. "The King" knew that it was hard to deal with the changes but was open to helping his new teammates. He also thinks that his experience will eventually help the Lakers achieve their goals.
"Every year is its own challenge," James said. "I control what I can control and what I can't control, I can't worry about. … I know, for me, I can lean on things that I’ve experienced."
LeBron James also told The Athletic that he's happy with the team's progress. It's important for the four-time champ to see the LA Lakers compete every night. Despite their lack of success early in the season, James wants the team to continue playing hard.
"I'm a guy who stays in the moment and we are who we are," James said. "We have to get better and compete every night — which we've done. We've competed. This ball club has definitely competed. But we've, for the majority, we just hit a wall at one point and it's hard for us to recover after that. … You just got to keep pushing."
James is averaging 24.3 points, 8.9 rebounds, 7.1 assists and 1.0 steals this season. He's definitely doing his part to contribute to the team, but needs to improve his shooting. The four-time MVP is shooting just 21.0% from beyond the arc and 68.2% from the free-throw line.
Also read: Darvin Ham confident LA Lakers will ‘turn the corner’: "I didn’t come here to lose"
LeBron James misses LA Lakers' loss to Utah Jazz on Monday
LeBron James missed his first game of the season on Monday against the Utah Jazz. James was ruled out with left foot soreness, which he had been dealing with earlier in the season. The LA Lakers fell to the Jazz for the second time in a week, losing 139-116.
Anthony Davis, who was dealing with lower-back tightness, had 29 points, four rebounds and two assists. Russell Westbrook came off the bench to add 22 points, three rebounds and five assists. Kendrick Nunn added 18 points, while Damian Jones had 10 points and seven rebounds.
The Lakers previously lost to the Jazz 130-116 at Crypto.com Arena last Friday. The team will be back in Hollywood on Wednesday against the LA Clippers before hosting the Sacramento Kings, Brooklyn Nets and Detroit Pistons.
Meanwhile, the Jazz now own the best record in the Western Conference. Lauri Markkanen continued his remarkable start to the season with 23 points, while Jordan Clarkson had 22 points, four rebounds and four assists.
