The Los Angeles Lakers suffered a tough 111-97 preseason defeat against the Golden State Warriors in Las Vegas, leaving fans and analysts wondering what went wrong. LeBron James, the Lakers’ star player, shed light on the factors that led to the loss, pinpointing both tactical and mental challenges.

After the game, James spoke candidly about the Warriors’ ability to disrupt the Lakers’ flow on both ends of the court. “We didn’t execute the way we needed to, especially in the second half,” James explained. “Their defensive pressure caught us off guard, and we lost our rhythm.”

James also acknowledged the Warriors’ strength from beyond the arc as a significant factor in the loss. “When you’re facing a team like Golden State, you know they’re going to hit tough shots. But when they’re draining threes and we’re not responding, it becomes a tough hill to climb.”

Despite the result, James emphasized the importance of preseason games as learning opportunities for the team, particularly for their younger players. “It’s still early, we’ve got to take these losses and learn from them. It’s not about winning every preseason game—it’s about building chemistry and making sure we’re ready for the real thing.”

The Lakers will have a chance to bounce back with more preseason matchups before their highly anticipated regular-season opener next week. But for now, LeBron and his squad will need to regroup and adjust their game plan to avoid similar struggles in the future.