LeBron James, Luka Doncic
The Los Angeles Lakers continue to show flashes of what their ceiling could look like when their two stars find rhythm together. On Tuesday night, the Lakers leaned on a balanced attack from Luka Doncic and LeBron James, who combined for 60 points in a 111-103 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.
The win mattered in the standings, but the bigger moment came afterward. James, fresh off a 30-point performance, made it clear that the Lakers’ identity now runs through Doncic.
“Luka don’t need to bend his game for me,” James said postgame, per HoopsHype. “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 went on to explain how defenses respond to Doncic’s presence, pointing to the constant attention he draws and the responsibility that places on everyone else to space, cut, and react properly.
Luka Doncic Praises LeBron’s Willingness to Adapt
When reporters relayed James’ comments to Doncic during his own press conference, the 26-year-old responded with appreciation rather than ego, per Fadeaway World.
“I mean, he’s been absolutely amazing,” Doncic said. “Helping me out, helping others out, being super efficient on the field goals. But at the end of the day, he’s LeBron. He can do anything, so I just really appreciate him.”
James backed up his words with production. He finished with 30 points, eight rebounds, eight assists, two steals, and a block while shooting 10-of-19 from the floor and 3-of-5 from three. The performance continued a scoring surge that has helped stabilize the Lakers during key stretches of the season.
Doncic matched that impact in his own way, tallying 30 points, 10 assists, two steals, and a block. While his three-point shot stayed inconsistent, his control of the offense remained steady, especially late, when the Lakers needed clean possessions.
Chemistry, Communication, and the Bigger Picture
Beyond the box score, Doncic highlighted how improved communication has fueled the on-court chemistry between him and James. He pointed to better timing on cuts, cleaner reads in pick-and-roll situations, and a growing comfort level that has developed game by game.
“Like I said, when we’re out there, I think we’re playing better with each other game by game,” Doncic said. “It’s only going to improve from here.”
There was also a lighter moment when Doncic joked about James’ longevity. At 41, James continues to perform at an elite level, something that still surprises teammates.
“It’s just insane,” Doncic said with a laugh. “Probably me at 41, I’d be limping around.”
For the Lakers, this dynamic represents both the present and the future. James remains productive and engaged, while openly acknowledging that the offense now bends around Doncic’s strengths. That clarity matters as the season progresses.
With the victory, the Lakers improved to 23-11 and moved ahead of the Houston Rockets in the Western Conference standings. More importantly, they continue to build an identity around two stars who appear fully aligned on roles, responsibility, and trust.