James offers blunt comment on Drew Timme's role with the Los Angeles Lakers after big man's career night in Portland.
The Los Angeles Lakers dropped a 132-116 decision to the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday night, marking their fifth loss in their last six games as injuries continue to pile up for the struggling squad.
With the defeat, the Lakers fell to 24-16 on the season while the Blazers improved to 21-22.
Playing without leading scorer Luka Doncic (groin), starting center Deandre Ayton, and Austin Reaves, the Lakers had to dig deep into their bench for answers.
One of the few bright spots on the night was two-way player Drew Timme, who delivered a career-high 21 points off the bench in the loss.
LeBron's Blunt Take on Timme
After the game, James was asked if Timme's breakout performance could provide a spark for the team moving forward, and his response was short but pointed.
"If we continue to play him," James said.
The comment was a clear signal that the 41-year-old believes the former Gonzaga standout deserves more looks going forward.
Timme, who signed a two-way contract with the Lakers back in November after dominating the G League with the South Bay Lakers, has not seen many minutes at the NBA level this season before Saturday's contest.
LeBron James finished the night with 20 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists, falling just shy of a triple-double, but it was not enough to overcome Portland's balanced attack led by Shaedon Sharpe's 25 points.
Marcus Smart paced the Lakers with 25 points before leaving the game with an injury in the fourth quarter.
What's Next for the Lakers?
The loss came at a bad time for Los Angeles, who have been dealing with injuries all season and now face questions about their roster depth as the trade deadline approaches.
Head coach JJ Redick has said publicly that he expects his team to compete at a high level regardless of who is available, but the results have not backed that up lately.
Timme has shown he can contribute when given the chance, and LeBron's comments suggest the veteran believes the big man has earned more playing time.
Whether or not Redick agrees remains to be seen, but with the Lakers continuing to battle health issues, opportunities could keep coming for players like Timme to prove themselves.
Los Angeles returns home to face the Toronto Raptors on Sunday as they look to get back on track and snap out of this rough stretch.