Welcome back to the NBA Star Index — a weekly gauge of the players who are most controlling the buzz around the league. Reminder: Inclusion on this list isn’t necessarily a good thing.
It simply means that you’re capturing the NBA world’s attention. Also, this is not a ranking. The players listed are in no particular order as it pertains to the buzz they’re generating.
This column will run every week through the end of the regular season.
LeBron James’ consistent commitment and energy on the defensive end this season has been remarkable. He has nothing to prove. The Los Angeles Lakers honestly probably don’t care all that much about their playoff seed. And yet, he’s regularly making plays like this.