LeBron James Shines On 41st Birthday As Lakers Center Debate Intensifies

On a night that was supposed to be all about celebration, the Los Angeles Lakers found themselves under the harsh glare of scrutiny—both from their own locker room and the wider NBA world. Tuesday, December 30, 2025, marked LeBron James’ 41st birthday, and the Lakers honored the milestone as they faced the Detroit Pistons at Crypto.com Arena. While the pregame buzz centered on James’ remarkable longevity, the action on the court—and the swirling conversations off it—quickly shifted the narrative to the Lakers’ present and future at the center position, where Deandre Ayton’s role has become a lightning rod for debate.

James, now in his 23rd NBA season, continues to defy the odds. He’s averaging 20.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 6.7 assists through 14 games in the 2025-26 campaign. Over his last eight outings, he’s ramped up production to 25.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.9 assists—numbers that would be impressive for anyone, let alone a player in his fifth decade. After practice on his birthday, James’ teammate Deandre Ayton couldn’t help but marvel at the superstar’s professionalism and resilience. "Consistency. Being true to the game, approaching the game the right way. It’s pretty obvious, it’s black and white. He takes care of his body, he’s a true professional. It’s contagious. You want to put some of this stuff in your bag as well. He ain’t hiding nothing from you. So you might as well take free game," Ayton told reporters, as quoted by The Sporting News.

But as the Pistons and Lakers tipped off, it was Ayton’s own performance—and his fit with the Lakers’ ambitions—that drew the most attention. Signed in the offseason to a two-year, $16.2 million contract after being bought out by the Portland Trail Blazers, Ayton was viewed as a potential solution to the Lakers’ long-standing issues at center. Yet, as the season has unfolded, optimism has given way to skepticism. Despite Ayton’s respectable averages of 14.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.0 block in 29.6 minutes per game, and a career-high 70.9 percent shooting as Luka Doncic’s pick-and-roll partner, the Lakers’ defensive woes have only deepened.

The numbers are damning. With Ayton on the floor, the Lakers sport a 120.0 defensive rating, and the team is 1.5 points per 100 possessions better when he sits. When Ayton shares the court with LeBron James, the defensive rating balloons to 122.4. Over the last 15 games, the Lakers’ defense has ranked 29th in the league—a stat that has fans and analysts alike sounding the alarm. The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie recently dissected the Lakers’ issues on his Game Theory podcast, highlighting the defensive struggles when Ayton, Rui Hachimura, and James are deployed together. "The 41-year-old can’t give the consistent effort necessary, and the other two struggle in help situations," Vecenie observed.

Ayton’s arrival in Los Angeles was, in part, a response to Luka Doncic’s desire for a reliable pick-and-roll partner and lob threat. Doncic, wearing number 77, commands so much defensive attention that a rim-running big seemed like the perfect complement. But as the games have ticked by, it’s become clear that Ayton’s offensive efficiency can’t paper over his defensive shortcomings. Portland, his previous team, was eager to move on from Ayton, having found that his defensive lapses undermined their ability to build a strong identity. Last season, the Blazers were 4.8 points per 100 possessions worse on defense with Ayton in the lineup.

Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer, an NBA insider, put it bluntly during his weekly video livestream: "Another team that we’re definitely expecting will look for big men moving forward because they don’t have their center of the future is the Los Angeles Lakers." Fischer elaborated, "The Lakers could be front and center of any potential big man developments come this offseason. Deandre Ayton will only have one year left, and as well as he’s played there, I don’t think the Lakers ever really looked at Ayton as a long-term answer at center like they did once upon a time with that Mark Williams trade that got rescinded."

Fischer’s reporting echoes what’s become an open secret in NBA circles: the Lakers view Ayton as a stopgap, not a cornerstone. Even if he opts into his player option for the 2026-27 season, Los Angeles is expected to aggressively pursue a new starting center this summer. With a 2026 first-round draft pick and projected cap space, the Lakers have multiple avenues to upgrade. The front office is also rumored to be seeking a 3-and-D wing before the February 5 trade deadline, but the center position remains the long-term priority.

Head coach JJ Redick is feeling the pressure to find answers, especially as he works to maximize Doncic’s impact. Redick has already tinkered with Doncic’s minutes and is exploring different lineup combinations, but the defensive anchor the Lakers crave remains elusive. Jaxson Hayes, the only other true big on the roster, hasn’t inspired confidence as a reliable option in high-leverage situations.

Tuesday’s clash with the Pistons provided another case study. Detroit’s Tobias Harris repeatedly challenged Ayton in the post, while guards Cade Cunningham and Ausar Thompson found success attacking the rim. On the other end, Doncic tried to orchestrate the offense, but the Lakers’ inability to string together stops made every possession feel like an uphill climb. Images from the game showed Ayton battling for rebounds against Jalen Duren and defending Harris in the paint, while Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia tried to keep pace with Detroit’s perimeter threats. The defensive communication and rotations, however, left much to be desired.

The Lakers’ struggles aren’t lost on their fanbase—or their superstars. LeBron James, ever the consummate professional, has tried to keep the focus on team play rather than narratives about individual fit. "I don’t wanna create a narrative of me and Luka. There’s five guys on the floor and about seven guys that come off the bench; it needs to be all of us," James said after a recent win against the Sacramento Kings. Still, the reality is that Los Angeles can’t be a serious title contender with a defense mired near the bottom of the league.

For Ayton, the challenge is clear. His effort has improved since arriving in Los Angeles, and his offensive numbers are strong, but the Lakers’ championship aspirations demand more than individual stats—they require a defensive presence that can anchor the team in the postseason crucible. As the trade deadline approaches and the offseason looms, it’s hard to escape the sense that Ayton’s time as the Lakers’ starting center may be running out.

As the Lakers look to regroup and refocus, the spotlight remains squarely on their search for answers in the middle. LeBron James’ birthday may have been a moment to celebrate the past, but for Los Angeles, the future at center is the question that just won’t go away.