What’s Going On With LeBron James? Controversial In-Game Behavior Raises Serious Concerns

The Los Angeles Lakers didn’t just lose to the Phoenix Suns on Monday night — they watched their franchise star become the center of an entirely avoidable controversy.

A strange, unfocused moment from LeBron James in the middle of an already disastrous game has sparked heavy criticism and raised real questions about what is going on behind the scenes.

⚠️ A Disconnected Performance From Start to Finish

LeBron had just returned from injury, but Monday’s game was his flattest outing of the season:

• 10 points
• 3 assists
• 0 rebounds, 0 steals, 0 blocks

But the stat line wasn’t the issue — the attitude was.

With the Lakers trailing by 21 points late in the third quarter, LeBron was seen joking and talking with the Suns’ bench… while still on the court, during a live play.

😳 The Moment That Shocked JJ Redick

While LeBron was laughing with Phoenix’s reserves, Luka Dončić stood ready to initiate a set play involving LeBron.

The problem? LeBron never got into position. He kept chatting, ignoring the action entirely.

Head coach JJ Redick tried calling out to him — LeBron didn’t respond.

Redick, visibly irritated, was forced to burn a timeout in the middle of the possession just to stop the chaos. Even then, LeBron took several seconds to end the conversation and join the huddle, while Redick stared him down in open disapproval.

For a leader as experienced as LeBron, it was an uncharacteristically unfocused and dismissive moment.

🧩 Is LeBron Sending a Message?

Publicly, LeBron has said he’s comfortable letting Luka Dončić run the offense.

But Monday didn’t look like acceptance — it looked like frustration.

His lack of urgency, especially with the Lakers getting blown out, created a perception that he was simply:

• getting his 10 points to maintain his double-digit scoring streak
• and then checking out mentally

Even if that wasn’t his intention, that’s the message his behavior sent.

🧠 Chemistry Concerns Are Becoming Harder to Ignore

While the rest of the roster has embraced the shifts around Luka’s playmaking rhythm, LeBron’s body language suggested he was operating on a completely different wavelength.

Moments like this don’t just reflect frustration — they expose cracks in the team’s chemistry.

And when it comes from the organization’s most powerful figure, it can’t be brushed aside.

The Lakers need LeBron fully locked in, not disengaged and chatting with the opposing bench during a blowout. It was a rare lapse from one of the greatest competitors the league has ever seen — but a lapse big enough to spark real concern.