LeBron James matches Luka Doncic with another impressive performance in latest Lakers win
The 41-year-old had over 30 points against the New Orelans Pelicans
LeBron James’ recent scoring surge has once again underlined how little his career conforms to expectations for a player in his forties.
Following his 30-point display in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 111-103 win over the New Orleans Pelicans, James stressed that the team must revolve around Luka Doncic, not the other way around.
“Luka don’t need to bend his game [for me],” James said. “Luka is our [26-year-old] franchise for this ballclub. He don’t need to bend his game. It’s up to us to bend our game around him and figure it out.
“We just try to be dynamic and work off of him. We know he is an unbelievable pick-and-roll player, unbelievable shotmaker. He commands the defense. He has four eyes, sometimes six eyes on him. So, it’s up to us to put ourselves in the right position. … It’s not a problem for me; it’s not an issue for me.”
That dynamic has increasingly been a problem only for opposing teams. Doncic also scored 30 points against the Pelicans, marking the second time in the Lakers’ past three games that both stars have reached that mark together. Los Angeles have now won three straight games despite missing starters Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura, with James and Doncic carrying the load.
“He’s been absolutely amazing,” Doncic said of James. “Just helping me out, helping others out, being super efficient on the field goals. That’s Bron. He can do anything. Just really appreciate him. We are playing better with each other, game by game. And this is just going to be improving more.”
After a slow return from sciatica that sidelined him for the first month of the season, James has clearly found his rhythm.
The 41-year-old has scored 25 points or more in seven of the Lakers’ past 12 games and is averaging 29 points on 58.8% shooting during the current winning streak.
Against New Orleans, he sparked an 8-0 run to open the fourth quarter, erasing a seven-point deficit with two three-pointers and an assist to Jarred Vanderbilt, before Doncic closed the game with late defensive and shooting plays.
“We’re just trying to weather the storm with the guys that we have,” James said. “But, it is going to start with me and Luka, for sure. Every time we hit the floor. He has the ball in his hands. I’m going to have the ball in my hands. We have to make sure we are putting our guys in position offensively, and then defensively.”
Lakers head coach JJ Redick said he never doubted James could return to this level, but managing his output on a nightly basis has become a collaborative process in his 23rd NBA season.
“I know LeBron, I know how much he puts into this,” Redick said. “I think it’s just recognizing, game to game, what he has. He’s Greg Maddux at the end of his career. Every night he doesn’t have his best stuff, but he has enough to win. I’m his catcher. I’ve got to figure out how to call the pitches. Sometimes he tells me to F off and he calls his own pitch, which is fine too.
“But it really is, to me it’s that. It’s like: What’s the best way to utilize him tonight based on the opponent, based on the coverage, based on how he’s moving? We have conversations sometimes in games. ‘How’s your 3-ball feel? OK? All right, I’m going to run this off-ball play for you’ It’s really just that ongoing dialogue with him.
“What he’s doing at 41, what he did last year at 40, it’s greatness. It’s just a different form of greatness.”
James’ pride in his longevity remains evident, but his availability continues to be carefully managed. Asked whether he would play the second night of a back-to-back against the San Antonio Spurs, his answer reflected both realism and experience.
“Every back-to-back, for the rest of the season, is TBD,” James said. “I am 41. I got the most minutes in NBA history. Bank [that answer] right now.”