Despite LeBron James continuing to defy age and basketball history in his 22nd NBA season, one advanced stat from the 2024–25 campaign has raised eyebrows: a career-low plus/minus. Yet, this seemingly puzzling number may actually be a positive sign for the Los Angeles Lakers heading into the playoffs.
LeBron ended the regular season with a plus/minus of -54 — the third-lowest of his career — as noted by Odds Shark. This stat typically reflects how a team performs in terms of total points scored versus allowed when a player is on the court. On the surface, a negative plus/minus for a superstar might suggest declining impact. However, context tells a different story.
The Lakers secured the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference with a 50-32 record, and LeBron remains one of their most consistent contributors, likely to earn another All-NBA nod. While plus/minus can offer insights, it’s far from a flawless metric — especially given the variables of teammates, matchups, and rotations.
Adding to the intrigue is the mid-season trade that brought Luka Dončić to Los Angeles from the Dallas Mavericks. Though recovering from a calf injury, Dončić’s presence has elevated the Lakers’ ceiling, even if he’s still ramping back up to full strength.
Perhaps most significantly, the lower plus/minus may highlight how role players like Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and others have stepped up during key stretches. Their increased impact down the stretch could signal that the Lakers have found the depth and balance needed for a deep playoff run — something the team has often lacked in recent years.
As the postseason begins, the Lakers carry the fourth-best odds to win the NBA title, according to ESPN BET — with a balanced roster, a healthy Dončić, and a still-lethal LeBron, that number might be more promising than the plus/minus suggests.
