A lot can change in a few months.
Joel Embiid, LeBron James and Tyrese Haliburton all won an Olympic Gold medal as part of Team USA this summer - now they have been cast into the NBA's All-Disappointment team.
LeBron James, Tyrese Halliburton and Joel Embiid in Paris
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LeBron James, Tyrese Halliburton and Joel Embiid in Paris
After the opening weeks of the season, The Athletic have released their list of the star names and the rookies who have all performed below expectations.
James is the biggest name on this list, with the four-time NBA champion and the Lakers bright start (10-4) under new coach JJ Redick a distant memory after seven defeats in their last 10.
The Lakers' embarrassing defeat in Miami, losing by a staggering 41 points summed up the growing feeling of NBA fans as of late, that James cannot carry a team anymore.
According to The Athletic, if the NBA coaches picked the All-Star team now, the 39-year-old would not be selected, such a snub would be the first time he has not been picked since his rookie season.
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James' points per game average is his lowest since his rookie year, with just 23 ppg and his 2-point percentage is down to 55.9%.
Other parts of the four-time NBA MVP are suffering too with a declining 3-point percentage and perhaps most unfortunately, James is averaging less than one dunk per game for the first time ever.
The 39-year-old is trending towards his highest-ever turnovers per game, as it is currently at 4.1 per game with only the 2016-17 season higher when he had 4.2.
“Just period, just everything,” James said about his poor form recently. “Just a rhythm. I just feel off rhythm the last few games.”
How does he fix it?
“Work. Just work. That’s all,” James said.
Joel Embiid and LeBron James have fallen short of expectations
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Joel Embiid and LeBron James have fallen short of expectations
Embiid is another notable star on the NBA All-Disappointment list - not least because he has barely featured for the 76ers.
The 30-year-old is also having his worst points per game average since his rookie year with just 22 points per contest so far, a steep drop off from his average of 34.7 last season.
31 points on his return a few days ago is a sign of the 76er slowly picking up form but the Embiid who dominates with drives and jumpers is nowhere to be seen yet, something he recognises himself.
“I need to be better. I need to be perfect. I need to be on point, which I’m going to do," Embiid said recently following a loss to the Grizzlies.
"I just feel like negativity keeps following us, which I don’t understand why. But it’s a shame, and it doesn’t change the fact that we’ve still all got to be better.”
Tyrese Haliburton and Trae Young also form part of the list along with every single one of the top 15 picks from the 2024 NBA Draft.