LOS ANGELES — LeBron James and Luka Doncic represent different generations and different continents, drafted 15 years apart and hailing from hometowns in Ohio and Slovenia that are separated by more than 4,500 miles. During Doncic’s seven-year NBA career, they have crossed paths only 14 times, twice in Christmas showcases but never in the playoffs. Even a novice observer would note their opposing flight patterns: It’s news when Doncic dunks, just as it’s news when James doesn’t.
Despite these differences and distances, Doncic has long referred to James as his “idol,” and James said last week that Doncic has been “my favorite player in the NBA for a while now.” Suddenly, thanks to a stunning trade that has united them on the Los Angeles Lakers, the two superstars have a chance to prove their mutual respect can serve as the foundation of a thrilling offense and a deep playoff run.
James pulled out all the stops to welcome Doncic to Los Angeles on Monday, donning a yellow No. 77 T-shirt during pregame warm-ups and ceding the coveted final spot during player introductions so that his new sidekick could savor a lengthy standing ovation in his first game since the trade. Then, in a huddle moments before tip-off, James relayed a simple instruction: “Luka, be your f—-ing self. Don’t fit in.”
Together, they bolted out of the gates and led the Lakers to a 132-113 thumping of the Utah Jazz at Crypto.com Arena. Within the game’s first minute, James and Doncic had each found Lakers center Jaxson Hayes with alley-oop passes. The carnival continued with James and Doncic taking turns drilling turnaround jumpers and launching fast breaks. Shortly before halftime, Doncic gathered a defensive rebound, spun and threw a perfectly timed bullet pass to a streaking James, who converted an easy layup in stride.
“I was a little nervous before,” Doncic said. “I don’t know the last time I was nervous before a game. Once I stepped out there on the court, it was fun. For [James] to say something like that [in the huddle], it feels amazing and gives me confidence. After that speech, it was chills. [Playing with James] is special. He sees the game in a different way than a lot of people. His IQ is insane. To have two guys like that on the court, I think it’s going to help the whole team out.”
In the wake of the Dallas Mavericks’ decision to deal Doncic to the Lakers for all-star center Anthony Davis, TNT commentator Charles Barkley opined: “This thing is not going to be smooth in L.A. with him and LeBron. Both of them want the ball 100 percent of the time.”
On night one, nothing could have been further from the truth. James, 40, and Doncic, 25, exhibited instant chemistry against an overwhelmed Jazz team that ranks 28th in defensive efficiency and winning percentage. An especially grouchy critic would point out that the duo was too eager to chase highlight plays during its maiden voyage, but just about everyone in the buzzing home crowd was having too much fun to complain.
Doncic, playing for the first time since he suffered a calf strain on Christmas, posted 14 points, five rebounds and four assists in 24 minutes. Though he struggled to find the range on his outside shot after nearly seven weeks off, Doncic moved well laterally, accelerated and decelerated without hesitation and generally showed no ill effects from the injury.
As some fans in Dallas continued to protest the blockbuster trade and call for Mavericks General Manager Nico Harrison to be fired, Doncic took the stage in Los Angeles for the first time with his parents, fiancée and daughter looking on. Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki also took a seat near the court, writing on social media that he “will always be a Mav for life, but had to come support my guy.”
The Lakers blanketed the arena with Doncic giveaway T-shirts, and they played Serbian music when he took the court to warm up. Doncic heard “Lu-ka! Lu-ka!” chants during the second quarter, and he spent the game’s final 15 minutes smiling with his teammates on the bench because the Lakers led by as many as 34 points in the second half.
“I’ve always looked up to [Nowitzki],” Doncic said. “A great mentor. For him to fly all the way from Dallas, it was amazing. I really, really appreciated it. I saw the fans [in Dallas]. I really appreciate it. I’ve been there almost seven years, and it’s amazing to experience those fans and the love for me. Now I think we should focus on the next step. The way the Lakers fans received me here was amazing.”
James, meanwhile, finished with a team-high 24 points to go with seven rebounds and eight assists. The Lakers’ ball movement and spacing consistently flummoxed the Jazz, and all five Los Angeles starters finished in double figures. Hayes feasted on open looks at the rim, and Rui Hachimura and reserves Dorian Finney-Smith and Gabe Vincent all enjoyed clean looks from three.
“I think it can be a thing of beauty,” Lakers guard Austin Reaves said. “The way we can manipulate the game on the offensive end and get what we want on every single possession. Luka is one of the best passers in the world. I think it’s the high-level IQ going along with pieces that really fit. … There’s going to be growing pains. I don’t think anybody is naive to that. I think it’s going to be much easier than everybody thinks.”
Barkley’s doubts about James and Doncic jelling are rooted in long-standing hardwood logic, and the pair will only have roughly two months to build chemistry before the playoffs begin. What’s more, the Lakers’ roster balance took a hit when their trade with the Charlotte Hornets for Mark Williams was nixed because the projected starting center failed his physical.
Yet Doncic’s debut marked a new peak of optimism for this Lakers season. Los Angeles has now won nine of its past 10 games, and James has played with excellent energy and impact throughout the stretch. The Lakers have incorporated Finney-Smith after a midseason trade and integrated defensive-minded forward Jarred Vanderbilt after a lengthy injury absence. Even without Williams, this has become a long and active group with sufficient shooting around its elite perimeter playmakers.
For the plan to come together on such short notice, the tie that binds James and Doncic — their Mensa-level vision and feel — must become their team’s chief virtue. Instead of waging a tug of war for control, James and Doncic have the potential to author a whole that’s far greater and prettier than the sum of the Lakers’ cobbled-together parts.
“This was a ‘no agenda’ game for our group,” Lakers Coach JJ Redick said. “I’m most excited by the spirit of the group. I think our overall group buy-in is at a really high level. Luka is motivated and Luka is a competitor. I expect that spirit to continue. … He didn’t make [tonight] about Luka. He made it about playing good basketball.”
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