Lakers coach JJ Redick couldn’t help but rave about 41-year-old LeBron James’ prowess on the court after the superstar’s game-winning performance against the Pelicans on Tuesday. James had 30 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and two steals on 10 of 19 shots, including 3 of 5 from deep and 7 of 7 from the free throw line. He committed only one turnover.
The Lakers won the game 111-103 despite trailing by nine points late in the third quarter. James was responsible for the turnaround, as he contributed to 14 straight points in three minutes, giving LA a two-point lead. It was critical to how things played out.
Redick reflected on James’ impact, especially over the last few games and compared him to baseball legend Greg Maddux. He then revealed that James sometimes shuts him down and calls his own plays like a baseball pitcher.
“He’s Greg Maddux at the end of his career, You Know. Every night, he doesn’t have his best stuff, but he has enough to win … I’m his catcher, I gotta figure out, you know, how to call the pitches. Sometimes he tells me to F off and he calls his own pitch, which is fine.”
LeBron James had a shaky start to the season after he missed significant time due to sciatica. However, he has regained plenty of momentum over the past few games. James is playing at an elite level as a scorer and playmaker. Amid LA’s three-game winning streak, he is averaging 28.5 points, 8.0 assists and 8.0 rebounds on 62.5% shooting from the field and 87.5% from the free-throw line.
JJ Redick is enjoying LeBron James and Luka Doncic’s synergy
Much has been made of LeBron James and Luka Doncic’s fit as a star duo. Their skill sets clash, and both need the ball in their hands to thrive. However, they are gelling well lately, finding a decent balance between playing on and off the ball. JJ Redick reflected on their partnership after Tuesday’s win, saying:
“What’s happening right now with Luka and LeBron and that partnership … there’s some real synergy happening right now that’s fun to watch.”
Luka Doncic also had a 30-point game. He added 10 assists to his box score while shooting 50.0% from the floor. The Lakers have improved to 23-11 on the season, cementing their hold on the third seed in the Western Conference standings.
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