LeBron James, reflecting on his NBA debut on October 29, 2003, pointed out the passage of time in the visiting locker room. A framed photo of that game, the beginning of his illustrious career, hung below his locker. The Lakers’ third game of this season coincided with the same city and date as his debut. The stark contrast in age and experience was evident when rookie Jalen Hood-Schifino, just 20 years old, mentioned that he was only three months old when James played his first NBA game.

Time has undoubtedly witnessed James’ enduring dominance, with more than half of his life dedicated to professional basketball. Despite the years that have passed, his consistent excellence remаins unchanged. However, time also brings change. Although the Lakers reached the Western Conference finals just three games ago with a largely intact roster, there is a sense of difference early in this season.

Coach Darvin Ham mentioned pregame that the team was still experimenting with ten-man rotations, trying to find the right combination for a team that appeared to have made minor adjustments. The search for cohesion continues. Despite James’ heroics in forcing the game into overtime with a sweeping layup, the Lakers struggled with missed shots and wasted opportunities, ultimately losing 132-127 to the Kings in Sacramento. Now, the team heads back to Los Angeles for a back-to-back game against the Magic.

James scored 27 points, including seven in overtime, but the Lakers struggled from beyond the arc, converting only two of their ten attempts in the fourth quarter and overtime. James also committed eight turnovers, including one to start overtime and another to end it. Although they managed to take the lead in the second half, fueled by Taurean Prince’s shooting and frequent trips to the free-throw line, it was not enough. Sacramento’s Malik Monk scored 11 crucial points in overtime, sealing the victory despite Domantas Sabonis fouling out and De’Aaron Fox battling foul trouble.

For Austin Reaves, Sunday’s game in Sacramento was a strugglе. The third-year guard, who represented Team USA over the summer, had difficulty finding his shooting touch. Clean looks from three-point range and mid-range shots rimmed in and out, leaving him visibly frustrated. He finished the game shooting one for 12 from the field and one for eight from three-point range, marking one of his worst shooting performances in his professional career.