For the first time since his first two seasons in the NBA, LeBron James has started 0-3. The two times James began a season that slow was the only times he has ever missed the playoffs.

It’s been a long time since a LeBron James-led team has started the NBA season 0-3. But that’s where LeBron and the Lakers are at right now after three straight losses to open up the 2018-19 season. The only other times James started 0-3 was his rookie and sophomore seasons, in which he was still a teenager. That’s not a good sign for the Lakers, because the only time James hasn’t made the playoffs was when he started the season off 0-3.

However, James isn’t worried. He knew joining a young Lakers team this offseason would require a lot of time and patience.

“I know what I got myself into. It’s a process. I get it. And it will be fine,” James said after the 143-142 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Monday. “I didn’t come here thinking we were going to be blazing storms right out of the gate. It’s a process, and I understand that.”

James remains optimistic, and maybe for good reason. The Lakers’ three losses have come at the hands of three playoff teams, and no loss has been by double digits. The first loss was in Portland to a Blazers team that earned themselves the third seed in a tough western conference last year. Then, the Lakers ran into a Rockets team that won an NBA-best 65 games last year behind the reigning MVP in James Harden. Lastly, James was without two starters (Rajon Rondo and Brandon Ingram) in the one-point loss to the Spurs.

Also, slow starts for James and a new team isn’t anything new. When James took his talents to South Beach, the Miami Heat started the 2010-11 season 9-8, even with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh by his side. Four years later when James returned to Cleveland, the Cavaliers went 5-7. Just like the start of this season, James got a lot of scrutinies and doubt for his team’s slow starts. On the bright side for James fans and Lakers fans, James went on to reach the Finals despite his subpar starts.

There’s no reason to panic just yet.