LeBron James looked in great shape during Los Angeles Lakers training camp, working hard ahead of his 21st season. However, the NBA’s leading scorer may still need to improve his three-point shooting. In a recent practice video posted to X (formerly Twitter), James was seen awkwardly blocking a corner three-pointer.
While practicing long-range shooting with Anthony Davis, LeBron launched an attempt that hit the side of the backboard. NBA players prefer to shoot from the corner because the chances are easier, but hitting the sidebar can be a nightmare. James happened to experience something like this, and he never tried it again. Here’s the clip (via Lakers beat writer Jovan Buha:
LeBron James looks to improve his numbers from beyond the arc
LeBron James is coming off the fifth-worst three-point shooting season of his career. Last year, he shot 32.1 percent from three. James is averaging 6.9 three-pointers per game, which is the second-most of his career so far. His three-point shooting has long been one of the weak spots in his game.
James hopes to become more efficient, at least reaching league average. Last year, the proportion of each statistician was 36.1%. If the 21-season veteran can shoot three-pointers more consistently and open up space for everyone, the Lakers’ offense could be more dynamic.
Considering the 3-point depth surrounding LeBron this year, this will provide a solid opportunity for LeBron to penetrate the paint and have open lanes. In addition to retaining snipers such as D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reeves and Rui Hachimura, the Lakers also introduced Taurean Prince, Christian Wood and Gabe Wen Center, they all have strong threat capabilities from beyond the three-point line.
Meanwhile, if LeBron James becomes a consistent threat, the two-man matchup with Anthony Davis will become even more deadly. They can run reverse pick-and-rolls, and James can pop up long-range shots in the process. It also allows Davis, a better three-point shooter, to attack the rim without much defensive attention.
Considering the amount of shots LeBron takes from the perimeter, especially over the past few years, the Lakers’ perimeter shooting will improve dramatically, and the perimeter has long been a glaring weakness for the team.
Also read: Why isn’t Austin Reeves playing against the Warriors?Discover why the Lakers chose to rest him in their preseason opener