It wasn’t smooth sailing between LeBron and the Lakers before the team traded for superstar Luka Doncic.
Many NBA fans and media personailiaries were saying that LeBron would request a trade away from the Lakers organization because they sent away his running mate Anthony Davis.
But, the sizzling start to the Luka era has reportedly calmed any concerns that LeBron had and potential strains on he and LA’s relationship may experience, The Athletic’s Sam Amick says.
“It’s nuanced, but here’s the answer: At that time, it wasn’t clear just yet how James might react to his close friend and co-star being shipped out of town in exchange for a younger star with a similar skill set who would instantly become the most important player in the Lakers’ program,” Amick said. “There were signs of strain in this partnership between James and the Lakers, with questions looming about whether either party would want to continue beyond this summer if there was no real hope in sight. It was fair to wonder how James might handle this new chapter ahead.
“As we now know, James has decided to embrace Dončić in the kind of whole-hearted way that could create one of the most entertaining and unique dynamic duos the game has ever seen. Not only is James somehow playing at an MVP-caliber level at this unprecedented late stage, but he’s meshing with Dončić as well as anyone could have imagined. The credit should be shared, to be sure, but first-year Lakers coach J.J. Redick and his well-respected staff deserve a major hat tip for the part they’ve played in making this work in the early going.”
Amazingly, LeBron is averaging close to his MVP season numbers right now at 40 years of age. Almost incomprehensible.
Having Doncic on the team has certainly allowed James to thrive in a whole new way.
READ MORE: Anthony Davis Could Be Out For the Season: Report
