Much has been said about how the Los Angeles Lakers adjusted their game plan since the arrival of Luka Doncic and the departure of Anthony Davis. Now, a former NBA champion has offered an interesting analysis on the chemistry between LeBron James and the Slovenian guard, while bringing Kyrie Irving into the conversation.
“I knew it would work because Kyrie and LeBron worked,” Antoine Walker said during an interview with Run It Back, referring to Doncic’s arrival in Los Angeles from the Dallas Mavericks. “Obviously, they’re not the same players, but two ball-dominant guys in Luka and Kyrie, so I know that LeBron would be able to play with Luka. It’s fun to watch these guys play right now.”
The 2006 Miami Heat champion forward then discussed the Lakers‘ savvy move in adding a young superstar like Doncic. “Sometimes, when a guy like LeBron James, who’s obviously going to retire soon, leaves your organization, it’s going to take a couple of years to rebuild,” he reflected.
“Now they are in a position where they already have their superstar in place, and they can put pieces around him,” Walker added. “To be able to transition from LeBron James to Luka, that’s a tremendous win.”
LeBron James #23 and Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers talk during the third quarter of a game against the Utah Jazz.
Walker also sees it as a step forward for Doncic
In the same conversation, Antoine Walker spoke about the significance of Luka Doncic leaving the Dallas Mavericks, where he was teammates with Kyrie Irving, to join the Los Angeles Lakers. “I’m happy for Luka; not everybody gets that opportunity,” said the 48-year-old former power forward.
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“He was in a situation where he was the franchise player, and everything was run through him in Dallas,” Walker considered. “To get traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, and the situation is going to be the same thing come next year, is a great thing.”
How did the LeBron – Kyrie duo work out?
While Antoine Walker clarified that Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic are two players with different characteristics, he made an interesting point regarding LeBron James’ chemistry with the guards he has played alongside during his professional career.
With Irving, James played for three years, between his return to the Cleveland Cavaliers from Miami in 2014 and Kyrie’s departure to the Boston Celtics in 2017. During that stretch, the duo worked flawlessly: James was the undisputed leader of the team, but the guard played a fundamental role in the team’s success, even hitting that unforgettable shot in the 2016 NBA Finals.
Another notable period in James’ career came when he teamed up with Dwyane Wade in Miami. Together, they formed a dynamic partnership, winning back-to-back NBA titles in 2012 and 2013. This demonstrates that while LeBron can be the main player of a team, he also has the ability to adapt to his teammates’ strengths in pursuit of collective success.
