LeBron is doing something he's never done before since Luka joined the Lakers, says Carmelo Anthony

Carmelo Anthony knows a lot about LeBron James. They were briefly teammates with the Los Angeles Lakers, but they also played together for years with Team USA and faced each other numerous times on the NBA court. Drawing from that experience, the New York Knicks icon discussed how Bron has changed his game since Luka Doncic’s arrival in Los Angeles.

“He’s in the corner,” Carmelo highlighted about James during a conversation with Dwyane Wade on the 7PM in Brooklyn podcast. “I ain’t never seen the (expletive) in 22 years in a corner. I’ve known him since high school, I’ve never seen him sprint to the corner and shoot a three, ever. Like he’s willing to go to the corner and shoot the three.”

Anthony then discussed how he perceives LeBron’s mood since the arrival of Doncic. “Bron is happy as (expletive), only because ‘I have another mind with me,’” said the former forward, who played in Los Angeles alongside James in 2021-22.

Finally, Carmelo delved into how LeBron has found a new role with the Lakers. “I said this before. He’s switched roles. He is AD (Anthony Davis), and Luka is him,” he explained. “All the outlet passes off the rebound, Luka can make those same passes.” Dwyane Wade, another former teammate of LeBron’s, chimed in, saying: “LeBron is really good at basketball. He figures it out every time.”

Los Angeles Lakers forward Carmelo Anthony #7 and Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James #6 during a game against the Memphis Grizzlies on December 29, 2021.

Lakers without Doncic and LeBron

The impressive run the Lakers had achieved since Luka Doncic’s arrival, which had propelled them up the Western Conference standings, was abruptly interrupted by injuries to several key players.

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LeBron James has missed three games due to a left groin strain. In addition, other players, such as Rui Hachimura, Jaxon Hayes, and Maxi Kleber, have been dealing with physical issues. Luka Doncic was also sidelined for the game against the Denver Nuggets on Friday night due to left calf issues, coupled with a right ankle sprain.

The Lakers’ deep roster

These setbacks forced head coach JJ Redick to field a much-diminished team at Ball Arena, which still fought hard thanks to standout performances from Austin Reaves (37 points) and Dalton Knetch (32 points). Redick was also forced to give more minutes to players who had previously held secondary roles this 2024-25 NBA season, such as Shake Milton and Bronny James.

However, despite these efforts, the Nuggets emerged victorious, led by Nikola Jokic, who recorded 28 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists, along with strong contributions from Jamal Murray, Christian Braun, Russell Westbrook, and Aaron Gordon. Denver now solidifies its position as the second seed in the Western Conference, trailing only the Oklahoma City Thunder.