Death, taxes, and Luka Doncic carving up defenses using the pick and roll. Those are the inescapable realities in life which one cannot avoid. The Los Angeles Lakers will surely not be running from their preferred method of attack any time soon though.
Doncic is an absolute maestro in the pick and roll. It would be difficult to find a player in the NBA who is quite as adept as the Slovenian superstar at navigating that set and breaking down the defense as a result.
That is a big part of the reason as to why the frontcourt players who share the court with him always thrive, and why the shooters camping out in the corner receive some of the easiest looks they have ever seen when Doncic collapses the floor. With a full offseason for JJ Redick to implement new strategies, this one will be front and center for how the Lakers dominate in 2025-26.
Luka Doncic's pick-and-roll dominance should make Lakers' lives easier
One key newcomer to the Lakers who has to love what Doncic can do for him in the upcoming season is Deandre Ayton. ESPN's Kevin Pelton highlighted a crucial statistic that suggests the Lakers center should be poised for major success with Luka as his leading man.
Pelton wrote, "During Luka Doncic's NBA career, players who have screened for him have an effective field goal percentage of 63% when they end up shooting on the play, best of any ball handler with at least 500 such plays according to GeniusIQ tracking."
There is a clear path to success for Ayton in Los Angeles and it is a simple one. Set screens, play within your role in the offense, and let Doncic do what he does best.
Deandre Ayton was tied with AD and Lively this season for 16th most dunk points per game.
In case you've never watched him before or need a reminder, here are some examples in Portland from this season of him being a lob threat. https://t.co/qCvZycBakn pic.twitter.com/swSC51UFVa
— Cranjis McBasketball (@Tim_NBA) June 19, 2025
It's not just one of the Lakers' newest arrivals who should be a beneficiary of pick-and-roll action with Luka. His aging superstar teammate, LeBron James, can get in on the fun too.
James, as a screener, may not always want to pursue a simple finish thereafter. Although, nothing would be stopping him if Doncic creates an easy opportunity for the roll and jam. However, LeBron's skill set could allow for more.
James as a screener should be put into an opportunity to further dissect a defense that is already scrambling defense in its rush to react to the pressure created by Doncic. LeBron can capitalize on his fantastic playmaking abilities from there to find the teammate who has the best shot.
There's really no reason to overthink the matter ahead of 2025-26. The Lakers should be using the pick-and-roll attack, and they should be doing it until it has proven ineffective.