Analyst slams LeBron James for entering season without championship aspirations

The LA Lakers are 13-11 this season. They are eighth in the Western Conference and would be a play-in team if the campaign ended today.

While LeBron James' numbers continue to be remarkable, he's not passing the eye test like he used to. That's expected from a player in his 22nd season in the NBA.

James has also been visibly frustrated during games with his team's inconsistency and inability to keep up with contending teams.

Evan Cohen of ESPN Radio doesn't want fans to be empathetic with him. He thinks James brought this on him with the moves he advocated for in the offseason.

"Here's the thing: I think LeBron James entered this season not worrying about a championship," Cohen said on Tuesday, via 'UNSPORTSMANLIKE Radio' "It would be odd to me, thinking about, all of a sudden — now he's worried about a championship.

"When you're voluntarily pushing for a first-year head coach who's never done it before in JJ Redick — not to say that JJ can't win a championship at some point — and then demanding that they draft your son, those are two moves that are not win-now moves."

Stephen A. Smith calls out LeBron James over his influence with the Lakers

This seems to be a common sentiment around sports media. For the first time in his career, pundits aren't giving LeBron James a pass and they're holding him accountable for his leverage and power.

On Tuesday's edition of "First Take," ESPN's Stephen A. Smith pointed out that James has often been the mastermind behind some of the moves the team has made — some of which have not worked out.

“We get so caught up in his greatness as a player that we don’t pay enough attention to the power of his influence and the moves he compels (the Lakers) to make, which have served to derail a franchise like he did in Los Angeles,” Smith said.

The "LeGM" nickname has been a running joke online among fans and NBA analysts for years as they claimed that James has had a say in almost every move his teams have made throughout his career.