Just days ago, the NBA world was rocked by one of the most shocking trades in league history. The Dallas Mavericks sent Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber, and Markieff Morris to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis and a 2029 first-round pick. Now, Lakers head coach JJ Redick is eager to see how the pairing of Doncic and LeBron James will unfold.
The Lakers are setting the stage for the future, with Doncic expected to become the face of the franchise once LeBron decides to retire. Until then, the two superstars will share the court for at least the remainder of the 2024-25 season. Beyond that, Jamesâ decision on whether to extend his career remains uncertain.
It might seem challenging to make two superstar players work seamlessly together, but Redick doesnât see it as an issue. He believes both players will complement each other and be highly productive on the court.
âYou have two guys who have a high level of basketball intelligence that Iâm very confident whether itâs playing a two-man game, a three-man game, playing minutes without each otherâŠtheyâre gonna be productive,â Redick explained before the Lakersâ matchup with the Clippers. âTheyâre gonna excel. I think for both those guys, they have a killerâs mentality, and thatâs excitingâ.
Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates a lead with Dorian Finney-Smith #17 during a 122-97 Lakers win over the LA Clippersat Intuit Dome. (Harry How/Getty Images)
Charles Barkley skeptical about James-Doncic duo
While Redick and much of the basketball world are optimistic about the LeBron-Doncic partnership, Hall of Famer Charles Barkley has expressed doubt. Barkley believes the pairing could face significant hurdles, particularly because both players are used to dominating the ball.
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âThis thing is not going to be smooth in LA with him and LeBron because both of them want the ball 100% of the time,â Barkley said during an appearance on NBA TV. âLuka does not move without the ball. LeBron does not move without the ballâ.
Barkley continued by acknowledging the greatness of both players but predicted growing pains as they figure out how to coexist. âThereâs gonna be some serious growing pains when those two try to play together,â he added. âNow, theyâre both great players, donât get me wrong, but LeBron wants the ball, and Luka definitely wants the ball. So itâs going to be very interesting how that works outâ.
Danny Green says Doncic can learn a valuable lesson from LeBron
Former Lakers champion Danny Green also weighed in on the blockbuster trade, focusing on what Doncic could learn from playing alongside James. Green highlighted the ongoing criticism about Doncicâs conditioning and suggested that LeBronâs legendary dedication to his physical health could be a valuable lesson for the young star.
âThe biggest criticism weâve heard about Luka thus far is his body, and how he hasnât taken care of it. So, thatâs probably the most important thing he can learn from LeBron,â Green said, via ESPN. âIf anybody has the blueprint of making your career last a long time, itâs LeBron Jamesâ.
As the league watches this duo take the court together, one thing is certain: all eyes will be on Los Angeles to see if Doncic and James can create the chemistry needed to lead the Lakers back to championship glory.
