At 41, LeBron James is having a great time as Luka Doncic’s lieutenant
That Lakers fans in general, and LeBron James especially, they are convinced, the forty-year-old has not lost any of his talent. It was necessary for Austin Reeves to join the dispensary for good, foreverLakers wing regain your influence and effectiveness in the game. Author of 30 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists against Pelicanreminds that he became the team’s second option, behind Luka Dončić.
“Luka doesn’t have to adjust his game for me” insists LeBron after the victory. “Luka is a franchise player. He doesn’t have to change the game. It’s up to us to adapt around him and find solutions. We just try to be dynamic and play off him. We know he’s exceptional in the pick-and-roll, that he’s an incredible scorer. He attracts the defense: sometimes four eyes, sometimes six are on him. This is our problem to us. It’s our problem” to us.
Doncic in the center of the game, Lebron is both freer and less responsible. It’s almost an ideal role at his age, and he’s been effective in three games. He was even spectacular with four dunks against the Pelicans, including a windmill dunk at the end of the 3rd quarter.
“He is absolutely amazing,” Doncic fires. “He helps me a lot, he helps others, he’s extremely efficient in shooting. That’s LeBron… He can do everything. I really appreciate that. We’re playing better and better together, game after game, and it’s only going to get better.”
“How best to use it depending on the opponent, the defense, their mobility in the evening”
Injured at the beginning of the season, LeBron was truly worrisome when he returned to average 14 points on 41% after six games. Struggled to find his place in an off-ball role. And then the Lakers’ bad patch forced JJ Redick to rethink his plans, and Reaves’ injury sped things up. Even if Redick admits that sometimes LeBron does what he wants…
“I know LeBron and I know how much he invests in it… It’s a question of adaptation, game by game” the Lakers coach believes. “He’s like Greg Madduck (baseball) at the end of his career: he doesn’t have to have his best arsenal every night, but he has enough to win. I’m his catcher. I have to know what pitches to call. Sometimes he sends me out for a walk and picks myself, and that’s fine with me. What’s important to him is to know how the opponent will best use, how to defend, what’s important to him in defense, to know how to best use mo. We talk a lot during games tonight: ‘How are you feeling?’ that you have 3 points, so I’ll get you a system without the ball?’ It is an ongoing dialogue. What he does at 41, what he already did at 40 last season, is size. Different size. »
2026-01-07 07:25:00
