Once again, LeBron James is proving why he's one of the NBA's most adaptable superstars. Since the blockbuster trade that brought Luka Dončić to Los Angeles, James has willingly stepped into a secondary ball-handler role, marking a significant shift from his previous position as the Lakers' primary play creator.
The results speak for themselves. The Lakers' high-flying 21-point victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday (136-115) showcased just how lethal this new dynamic can be. After the game, LeBron commented on his new role:
"In order for us to be the team, ultimately, we need to be, the ball needs to be in Luka's hands. … I'm very comfortable playing off the ball."
Since joining the Lakers in 2018, James has functioned as the team's primary offensive engine. He averaged 7.8 assists per game during the championship season and has consistently been among the league leaders in touches and time of possession. During the Anthony Davis era, LeBron orchestrated nearly every offensive set. Now, that dynamic has changed dramatically. James is posting his lowest usage rate (26.1%) since his rookie season while still maintaining elite efficiency. That said, the Lakers are on a tear, winning five of their last six game, and LeBron appears to be accepting his new role gracefully.
Adapting to new offensive arrangements is nothing new for the 22-year veteran. LeBron referenced his evolution from being the primary scorer in his first Cleveland stint to off-ball mover in Miami and back to offensive hub in his return to the Cavaliers:
"[I'm] Finding my spots, running the floor, getting outlet passes from Luka. Being on the backside of the defense is either being blitzed and pick and rolls or switched in pick and rolls track so many eyes and bodies. … I've been very blessed to be able to be adaptable to whatever team I've been on throughout my career, to be able to change and this is another instance."
So what makes the Luka-LeBron dynamic different? This new partnership creates a pick-your-poison scenario for defenders. When teams trap Dončić, James becomes the secondary playmaker with a numbers advantage:
"Anytime you able to get a body off of you or eyes off of you, and it's unlocks a lot for you and for our team," James explained.
Emphasizing how this new offensive strategy works to confuse opposing defenses, James highlighted one play against the Clippers:
"They blitzed Luka at the top of the key, and he swung it to me. I was in the slot. He swung it to me. And then I started to make the reads. And I was able to find Gabe [Vincent] for a wide-open three because they was blitzing."
Impressed by James's willingness to cede control of the offense, Lakers head coach JJ Redick praised the veteran All-Star, mentioning how this something that didn't always happen during previous coaching regimes.
"I think with LeBron, it's big-time of him just to kind of hand over a little bit of the ball control. … And we weren't having Bron bring it up a ton, but even in the halfcourt, playing off the ball and being comfortable with that I think is huge."
For a player who has controlled the offensive tempo for the vast majority of his 22 years in the league, this transition represents perhaps the most significant stylistic adjustment of James's career.
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This story was originally published March 6, 2025 at 10:52 AM.