Everyone beware, we’re still yet to see the best of LeBron James. Despite his 22-year career, four NBA championships, four Finals MVPs, and four regular-season MVPs, James had been playing with one hand tied behind his back, but Luka Doncic’s arrival with the Los Angeles Lakers changed all that overnight.
Like a video game, the Lakers’ trade of Doncic for Anthony Davis with the Dallas Mavericks was the achievement that unlocked “King” James’ full potential. In the latest episode of his “Mind the Game” podcast, LeBron revealed how the Slovenian’s arrival with the Lakers gave him the freedom to do what he does best.
Throughout his career, James has collaborated with other great stars like Dwayne Wade with the Miami Heat, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love in Cleveland, and Davis himself with the Lakers. Nevertheless, none of them have allowed him to unleash his true abilities like Doncic has.
Doncic unleashed the James
In a conversation with Brooklyn Nets coach Steve Nash, James stated that with Doncic leading the charge on every offense, he is free “to be able to pick and slip or pick and hit the short roll. Now what I do best is even more unlocked.”
He explained that the team’s new configuration allows him to play as a natural 4, where he can receive the ball from Doncic or Austin Reave in the pocket. “Now I get to read and decide which three defenders are going to guard me with the ball, two guys in a corner and a big guy and a dunker or a smaller dunker,” the King explained.
Doncic’s ability to manipulate defenses has given LeBron opportunities he rarely had before. He explained that every team double-teams Luka, so when the Slovenian passes the ball back to him, he finds himself in a one-on-one duel with another player, “and that doesn’t happen too much in my 22-year career.”
Is Doncic the new Love?
Doncic has helped James have fun on the court in a way he hadn’t since his days with the Cavaliers. Luka-Bron fast breaks not only destroy opponents, but have helped James rediscover the skills he developed as a wide receiver in high school.
“It’s extremely fun as far as the full-court passing stuff, being able to run. I haven’t had it since Kevin Love,” James recalled. “Being a former wide receiver in high school, kind of seeing the ball come and not showing my hand to the cornerback, I learned that from Randy Moss when I was growing up.”
The Lakers’ strong performance since Doncic’s arrival is a testament to the chemistry the two stars have developed. If it’s true that LeBron has yet to show the best of his game thanks to Luka, then the rest of the teams are in for a rude awakening.
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