Even before more ominous news about Anthony Davis was revealed, the Lakers’ biggest question revolved around the weight LeBron James is carrying and if it’s fair to ask more of him.

Now that Davis’ long-term status has gotten murkier because of the stress injury in his foot that may cost him more time than the initial prognosis determined, the Lakers and James are nearing a crossroads of sorts.

James, predictably, wants help. Even when Davis was playing some of the best basketball of his career, it barely helped the Lakers to mediocre status in the West.

So much of the best-case scenario has unfolded for the Lakers: Davis has seemingly taken the mantle of the Lakers’ best player, a two-way force that’s consistent and dominant. Darvin Ham has shown the chops to be a good head coach, steady and inspiring. Russell Westbrook has embraced his role off the bench, without complaint and being the best version of himself one can reasonably expect.

And even with the best-case scenario, it means nothing.

That has to be beyond sobering for Jeanie Buss and Rob Pelinka, it has to be horrifying.

Now that Davis is out for the foreseeable future and even longer, it’ll place more of the onus on James to keep things afloat — if that’s the term one can use when talking about a team that’s 13th in the West and behind the Oklahoma City Thunder in the standings.

James used to be a one-man stimulus package. There was a time when you could put James on the floor and align him with the used parts from Fred and Lamont Sanford’s garage and feel like he’d make the best of it.