LeBron James has gone head-to-head with Luka Doncic plenty of times now, and the respect between the two stars has only grown since becoming Lakers teammates. In a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal, James couldn’t stop praising Doncic’s approach to the game, calling him one of the smartest players in basketball.
“I just love the way he approaches the game,” James told the Wall Street Journal. “I love the way he plays the game. More importantly, man, he’s just a great f–ing guy. Big-time savant of the game. I always use IQ as a measuring point in basketball, guys who can ‘think’ the game. There are so many guys in our league who can play the game, but to be able to think the game as well puts you at another level.”
Luka Doncic was the star of the show in Dallas until early 2025, when he was suddenly traded to the Lakers in a blockbuster deal. For his entire young career, Doncic considered James his rival, but they’ve been quick to adjust since becoming teammates.
In his first 28 games as a Laker, with the help of LeBron, Doncic settled into his usual rhythm and finished strong with averages of 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game on 43.8% shooting. He led the Lakers into the playoffs before a disappointing loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round.
Going into this upcoming season, expectations couldn’t be higher for Luka and the new-look Lakers. He’s reportedly in the best shape after a stunning showing at EuroBasket, and he’ll have more motivation than ever to prove his status as one of the best players in the game.
For LeBron, who turns 41 in December, the pairing with Luka has revitalized his career. As someone who understands the game strategically, Doncic has a lot in common with LeBron, and their shared knowledge of the sport has made it a breeze to fit together.
Much like LeBron, Luka likes to outsmart his opponents, and it’s how he’s able to score in various ways. Most importantly, it gives him the natural court vision to make the right play in the right situation.
With Luka serving as the team’s primary ball handler, it’s only going to enhance the offense and generate high-quality shots for guys like LeBron, Austin Reaves, and Deandre Ayton. If the Lakers can just stay healthy and remain focused, it could be enough for them to keep up with the top Western contenders.
While the Doncic era has only just begun, LeBron James is on board, and he has a special appreciation for what the young star can do. So, in this final act of his career, LeBron should count himself lucky to play with someone who shares his rare gift of being able to “think” the game.
It’s not a skill that comes naturally to everyone, but Luka is one of the best in this area, and now he gets to enhance his skills further with one of the best on-court “thinkers” in the NBA. If their bond continues to grow, the Lakers may have stumbled onto one of the most natural superstar pairings of this era.
