Jeff Teague Claims Lakers’ LeBron James And Luka Doncic Aren’t As Good As Clippers’ James Harden And Kawhi Leonard

In a battle of the duos, Jeff Teaue would pick James Harden and Kawhi Leonard over LA rivals LeBron James and Luka Doncic.

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Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

The NBA Playoffs are going to start this week, with the entire world in anticipation to see who’ll be crowned the 2025 NBA Champion. Two of the biggest contenders in the Western Conference are the two Los Angeles teams – Lakers and Clippers.

Both teams are orchestrated by powerful guard-forward combinations, with the Lakers having Luka Doncic and LeBron James, while the Clippers have James Harden and Kawhi Leonard

Former NBA All-Star Jeff Teague declared he’d take the Clippers duo over the Lakers duo in a recent episode of the ‘Club 520 Podcast.’

“I like that duo (Harden and Kawhi) beating Bron and Luka. Bron’s 50! Kawhi can guard Luka. James and Luka cancel each other out. Obviously, Luka is better because he’s younger and can do more. They can get you similar stats… Well, Playoff Kawhi vs. 40-year-old LeBron? I’m rolling with Kawhi!”

https://twitter.com/Sports_Legacyy/status/1911836506244915305

This is a bold take, but one that is explainable.

James Harden has had a phenomenal season as the sole leader of the Clippers for most of the year. He’s averaged 22.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 8.7 assists in 79 games, leading the team as the perfect point guard who helped Norman Powell and Ivica Zubac have career seasons.

Kawhi made his season debut in January 2025, averaging 21.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 3.1 assists in 37 games since coming back. He ended the season looking like his healthiest version in years. The 33-year-old still has a lot to offer.

This duo works better than the Lakers duo on fit because Kawhi doesn’t need many on-ball possessions, allowing Harden to be the primary orchestrator on offense with Kawhi the clear defensive leader for the team. 

Doncic has averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.5 assists since joining the Lakers in February. The Slovenian guard has the highest ceiling of the four players here, already besting the Kawhi and Harden duo last season with the Dallas Mavericks. 

Luka and LeBron are both arguably two of the most on-ball heavy players in the NBA right now. However, LeBron has actively accepted being third in usage rate for the Lakers behind both Doncic and Austin Reaves. 

Still, James averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists in 70 games over the season and will likely be the only All-NBA selection among the four names here.

It will be tougher with everyone healthy, but the 26-year-old Luka can single-handedly impact this battle more than the other three in their mid-to-late 30s.

Teague’s assertion could be right if these teams meet in the Conference Finals, as Harden and Leonard’s style works better with how the Clippers play overall. However, the upside of performances from either Luka or LeBron gives them a chance in any series against any opponent in the Playoffs, something that can’t be said about the Clippers.

The Lakers are tangible threats to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round and then beat the winner of the Houston Rockets series against the No. 7 seed in the second round for a Conference Finals. 

Even though the Clippers are dark horses, they have a tough first-round opponent in the Denver Nuggets before a likely matchup with the No. 1 seed OKC Thunder in the second round.

The strengths of these duos won’t matter if they don’t advance deep into the Playoffs. A matchup between them to settle this is unlikely, but their accomplishments over this run will tell the tale anyway.

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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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