The Lakers’ Christmas nightmare just got worse for The King, aka LeBron James. After dropping their third straight game in a 119-96 beatdown by the Houston Rockets, the criticism has reached an absolute breaking point.
James scored 18 points and posted a team-worst minus-33 in 34 minutes, which is also his worst plus-minus performance as a Laker. Plus, the entire purple and gold was also similarly underwhelming throughout the holiday night.
James’s ex-teammate Kendrick Perkins didn’t sugarcoat his opinion after seeing his old partner lack every bit of GOAT body language on national television.
Ex-Teammate Kendrick Perkins Calls for LeBron James Trade After Dismal Christmas Performance
The Christmas Day massacre exposed everything wrong with the purple and gold. The Rockets dominated from start to finish, winning the rebound battle 48–25 and scoring 68 points in the paint. According to game data, they also grabbed 17 offensive rebounds, turning them into 24 second-chance points.
LeBron’s low-profile effort just added another layer to the already massive Christmas opera after his family confession before the holiday, and it caught the attention of his former Cavs teammate Kendrick Perkins. The 2008 champion didn’t hold back on ESPN’s First Take after watching his old partner’s effortless body language.
“When he’s not engaged or he feels some type of way, it speaks in his body language,” Perkins said. “And last night, his body language was awful. He was not engaged. He was pouting, moping and walking up and down the damn floor, and he was complaining.”
Kendrick Perkins CALLS OUT Lebron for his Performance against the Rockets and says the Lakers should Trade him
“When hes not engaged or feels some type of way it speaks in his body language. Last night his body language was awful, he was not engaged, he was pouting, he was… pic.twitter.com/EnZSKvPO2m
— TheTruth (@TheTruth8240) December 26, 2025
Perk, who battled alongside LeBron since AAU days, didn’t hesitate to call for a divorce. “LeBron and the Lakers relationship has run its course, and they need to figure out a solution and the solution is him not being in a Los Angeles Lakers uniform.”
The former big man pointed to Rich Paul’s recent podcast comments as proof, where Paul admitted the Lakers aren’t legit title contenders this season. If Bron’s agent is saying it publicly, they’re both thinking it privately.
Head coach JJ Redick didn’t mince words either after the charisma loss. He questioned his team’s professionalism and criticized their lack of effort.
“We don’t care enough to do the things that are necessary. We don’t care enough to be a professional,” Redick said during his postgame presser.
JJ Redick says practice on Saturday will be “uncomfortable” for the players
“I’m not doing another 53 games like this.”pic.twitter.com/IiiJY5itV6
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) December 26, 2025
He also warned the unit about Saturday’s practice, stating, “Saturday’s practice, I told the guys, it’s going to be uncomfortable. The meeting is going to be uncomfortable. I’m not doing another 53 games like this.”
Not surprisingly, the second-year coach’s remarks raised significant eyebrows. Some experts believe he was targeting James specifically, while others think Redick hinted at quitting Lakers coaching job.
Whatever the issue is, Bron is under a huge question mark following his worst plus-minus performance as a Laker. However, the problem is that the 40-year-old superstar holds a no-trade clause on his $52.6 million expiring deal. Any important move would require his permission.
Despite that, with the Lakers sliding, 19-10 and losers of six of their last 10, change might be coming within a short timeframe.
