LeBron James is currently dealing with one of the toughest shooting slumps of his entire career. In his last four games, he’s gone 0-for-19 from three. While this cold streak might raise eyebrows, it’s not entirely out of character for LeBron when you look at his career as a whole. Everyone has a rough patch, even the King—this one just happens to be hitting at the wrong time.

“Father Time” is knocking, and retirement no longer feels like an abstract idea… The King, who conquered teams like the Warriors, Spurs, and Celtics, has lost some of his old dominance. Hard to accept, yet harder to debate.

With the Lakers under pressure to perform in LA, LeBron’s power, speed, and athleticism have clearly faded. It’s obvious across the league that the once-immense force is no longer at his peak. Is it time for James to step away from the game? That question is becoming harder to ignore. But Paul Pierce positively suggests something else.

“I seriously think like, clearly, this is LeBron’s worst stretch of his career… Either one of two things has to happen. He’s going to have to cut down on his minutes- play less games, or if he decides he wants to play this through, this could be LeBron James’ last year in the NBA.”

“Because think about this. What does LeBron have to play for? He’s won Championships on every team he’s played on. He’s the all-time leading scorer. And to top it off, he got his son that he got to play with… It’s like, what else you gotta accomplish?” said Pierce on Speak on Fox Sports.

Yes, James has been averaging 35 minutes per game in his 22nd season. That is ridiculous for someone of his age. But clearly, it’s also starting to affect him. Even Coach Redick expressed doubts about the 22-season veteran’s goal to play all 82 games this season.

After LeBron James struggled in the Lakers’ 109-80 loss to the Timberwolves, Redick shared his thoughts. “I don’t know that’s in the best interest of him and us if he does that, but if he’s feeling well and feeling good, then he should play.” In the same Wolves game, he finished with just 10 points on 4-of-16 shooting, almost matching his season low.

It’s a reminder that even the King can’t always carry the weight of a full season without some risk.

The GOAT LeBron James seems to be slowing down…

LeBron’s physical limitations are starting to show up more clearly in his stats, and that’s alarming for the Lakers. As he approaches 40, the once unstoppable force is no longer the same. For example, he’s shooting just 67.9% in the restricted area, which is a significant drop from 73.3% last season. On drives, his field goal percentage has fallen from 59.8% last year to just 52.9% this season.

One of the biggest changes has been in LeBron’s transition play. He’s no longer the same force charging down the court in transition. While he still ranks eighth in fast-break points per game at 4.3, that’s a steep decline from 5.1 last season and 6.2 the year before.

His efficiency has also taken a hit, ranking in the 54th percentile for points per possession in transition—his lowest mark ever, according to Synergy Sports.

In the Lakers’ loss to the Timberwolves, LeBron’s struggles were hard to ignore. On one play, the 22-season veteran couldn’t finish a clean layup through contact. What really stood out, though, was the open shot King James missed after grabbing an offensive rebound. It’s tough to see these moments, especially from a legend who’s been almost untouchable for years.

What’s your take on the LeBron James of today? Drop your thoughts below.