LeBron James selflessly backed Luka Doncic as the Lakers’ franchise player after Tuesday’s 111-103 win against the Pelicans. Amid their brewing chemistry, which has led the team to a three-game winning streak, James said that Doncic shouldn’t be bending his game for anyone. He believes it’s the team’s job to adjust and not the other way around.
James made his thoughts clear while taking shots at critics, mostly his own fans, who believe that Doncic must adapt to playing off the ball to maximize his and the team’s potential in LA. Here’s what the 41-year-old said about his co-star (via Lakers reporter Daniel Starkland):
“Luka don’t need to bend his game. Luka is what, 27? He’s our 27-year-old franchise for this ballclub. He don’t need to bend his game. It’s up to us to bend our game around him and figure it out. We’re just trying to be dynamic and work off of him.
“He’s an unbelievable pick-and-roll player, unbelievable shotmaker, commands the defense, four eyes, sometimes six eyes on him. So it’s up to us to put ourselves in the right position. It’s not a problem for me. It’s not an issue for me to be able to do those things … I don’t know, I just don’t think people watch basketball.”
LeBron James and Luka Doncic have both been dominant players in their careers. However, James has been better off the ball. He’s sacrificed his usage more than anyone since Doncic joined the team last February.
However, fans believe Doncic must move the ball more as the offense becomes stagnant at times when he dominates possessions. As for James, he’s been efficient as a playmaker despite limited touches, making a more compelling case for him to have more on-ball responsibilities.
For now, it seems like LeBron James’ usage rate has increased, especially with Austin Reaves out. Luka Doncic has also shown significant improvement off the ball, which has been crucial to the Lakers’ three-game winning streak.
Luka Doncic hilariously claims he will be limping around at 41, unlike LeBron James
LeBron James has been on a tear since turning 41 on Dec. 30. He’s looked explosive with MVP-caliber production. Luka Doncic was just as amazed as anyone after seeing it up close. The Lakers superstar hilariously claimed he would be the complete opposite of James at his age after Tuesday night’s win.
“It’s just insane. Probably me at 41, I’ll be limping around,” Doncic joked.
On Tuesday, LeBron James and Doncic both had 30 points each for the second time in three games. James had 30 points, eight rebounds and eight assists against the Pelicans, while Doncic had 30 points and 10 assists.
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