Many Los Angeles Lakers fans thought it was unthinkable to see Luka Doncic and LeBron James on the same court as teammates.
As Doncic made his Lakers debut at Crypto.com Arena following the blockbuster Dallas Mavericks trade, the atmosphere was electric with excitement.
Skeptics wondered if two ball-dominant superstars could coexist successfully in the Lakers’ system.
Their comparable playing styles caused controversy among basketball observers, but the game against the Utah Jazz, while not the most difficult test, provided a peek of what could be.
The duo’s natural chemistry was clear from the first tip, implying that the Lakers’ risky decision could pay off big.
The results of their first game together spoke volumes.
According to Forbes’ Evan Sidery, the Lakers’ offensive efficiency skyrocketed when James and Doncic shared the floor, with 139 points per 100 possessions.
To put it into perspective, the Cleveland Cavaliers have the NBA’s highest offensive rating of 121.8 points per 100 possessions.
Doncic, making his first appearance since Christmas, showed little indication of rust, scoring 14 points in 24 minutes.
His addition to the lineup has breathed new life into the Lakers’ title hopes.
He appeared particularly invigorated with James in what turned out to be a dominant 132-113 victory.
Despite recent headlines regarding his conditioning and apparent disagreements with Mavericks management, Doncic appeared to be completely focused.
Taking James’ pregame advice, the 25-year-old performed with poise and intensity, ignoring outside criticism.
His debut implies that these two basketball virtuosos’ collaboration has the potential to become something remarkable.
Leave a Reply