LeBron James Doesn’t Want Luka Dončić To Change His Game For Los Angeles Lakers: ‘It’s Up To Us To Bend Our Game Around Him’
The Los Angeles Lakers beat the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday (1/6) behind stellar performances from NBA superstars LeBron James and Luka Dončić.
James put up 30 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, while Dončić finished with 30 points and 10 assists.
After the game, James told reporters that he doesn’t want Dončić to change his game because it’s up to him and the Lakers to bend their games around Dončić.
James, 41, is the oldest active player in the NBA, while Dončić is only 26.
“Luka don’t need to bend his game,” LeBron James said. “Luka is our 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.”
James missed the first 14 games of the season because of sciatica on his right side. The leading scorer in NBA history is averaging 21.7 points, 5.4 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game on the season.
Meanwhile, Dončić is putting up MVP numbers for the Lakers. The former Dallas Mavericks star is averaging 33.5 points, 7.9 rebounds and 8.7 assists per game. He leads the NBA in points per game and loves playing with James.
“He’s been absolutely amazing,” Luka Dončić said about LeBron 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.”
The Lakers are 23-11 on the season. They are in third place in the Western Conference standings.
Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura are still injured, so James and Dončić will have to continue to carry the scoring load for the Purple and Gold.
“We’re just trying to weather the storm with the guys that we have,” LeBron 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.”
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