LeBron James returned to the Lakers 140-126 win over the Utah Jazz, joining Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, who have thrived carrying a huge bulk of the scoring.
Fourteen games into the season, the Lakers (11-4) are winning, and they’ve done it without James playing at all. Riding the backs of new franchise star Doncic and Austin Reeves AKA “The White Wave,” questioned abound about whether or not LeBron’s return would hurt chemistry.
LeBron James Says: “I Can Do Anything On The Floor” For LA Lakers, Then Proves It In First Game Back
The Lakers have everything a team would want. Two white superstars and The GOAT at age 40, about to suit it up for one last championship run. Bron had a double-double, scoring 11 points and dishing 12 assists in his first game of the season, joking in the postgame presser about his age after fitting in seamlessly as a playmaker, with Doncic (37 points) and Reaves (26 points) pacing the team offensively.
Prior to his return, James confidently asserted that he should have no problem fitting in.
“I’m a ballplayer. The best thing about me and the way I’ve built my game over my whole life and the coaches in Little League, I’ve never had a position,” James said. “(Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra) used to always say, ‘Positionless basketball. Be positionless.’ There’s not one team, not one club in the world that I cannot fit in and play for.
“I can do everything on the floor. So, whatever this team needs me to do, I can do it when I’m back to myself.”
He wasn’t lying. He even got to see Bronny hit a late three-pointer.
Lakers Fans Were Unsure If LeBron James Return Would Hurt Winning Chemistry
While most fans recognized Bron’s return as strengthening the team, some were leery about what his style of play and dominating presence would do to the chemistry that has developed between their two white stars.
“Is this really a good thing??,” one fan on X asked about LeBron’s return. “The team has good chemistry, gonna take shots away from all the exciting whites.”
“He better try to just fit in, none of that top of the 3pt line holding for 8+ seconds,” said another fan.
“41 year old man who does nothing but stat pad to boost his fake legacy,” said one netizen who isn’t a fan of LeBron James.
Other fans predicted the very worst when James returned.
“Season is over. Chemistry gone. Deal him and be done. This is Luka team now,” suggested one fan who wanted LeBron James traded.
“Lakers about to start to nose dive down the standings,” predicted another netizen.
“And Luka’s points will go down and here come the L’s,” said a third person foreshadowing a Lakers collapse once LeBron returns.
Lakers Are Thriving With Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves “White Wave” Leading The Team
JJ Redick knows he has a rhythm going and Luka is doing Luka, averaging nearly 35 points, nine rebounds and nine assists per game. He also leads the NBA in 40-point games. Despite shooting just 32.7 percent from three Luka leads the league in scoring (34.4 ppg) and is 17th in shots attempted, which is proof of his efficiency when it comes to getting a bucket and getting to the charity stripe.
Through 15 NBA games, Austin Reaves is ninth in the NBA in scoring (28.3 ppg) and he’s not even in the top 25 in shots attempted. LeBron is not the lead guy, but he will get his shots. Redick didn’t think that he would have to do too much tweaking or shot-managing, even though this will be the first time in Bron’s career he was acquiescing to anyone as far as philosophy of play is concerned.
JJ Redick Expects Lakers New “Big Three” To Keep Thriving
His willingness to do it, however, and his embracing the playmaking capabilities he’s always preferred makes this Lakers team VERY dangerous.
“I would describe him as very adaptable,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “Not just in my time, but he’s adapted throughout his career to the system, his teammates, and what the game requires. The league has evolved. He’s evolved. That’s why he’s still in Year 23 and coming off of All-NBA season in Year 22; And again, it’s not like, you know, the playing with Luka, playing with this version of AR, it’s not like he hasn’t done that already. He did it for 2 1/2, three months last season.”
