The Great Laker debate: what LeBron and Luka say about who gets the last shot in LA
The Los Angeles Lakers have lost two of their three games with Luka Doncic and LeBron James playing together, and questions are already starting to pop up.
It hasn’t been the smoothest of starts for the Los Angeles Lakers and Luka Doncic after his first few games in purple and gold. LA has lost two of their first three, and those losses have led to questions about Luka and LeBron James’ ability to share the spotlight in the City of Angels.
Slow start for new-look Lakers
The Lakers and the Hornets were the first teams to tip off the restart to the season following the All-Star Break. Down by three points, with a chance to tie the game LeBron had not one but two chances to level the score, but missed both three pointers as the new-look Lake Show started to cast doubts for the first time.
The question was inevitable. With two mega stars on the court at the same time, who is going to get the final shot with the game on the line?
LeBron James misses TWO game-tying three-pointers, at home, against the lowly Hornets🤢🤮 https://t.co/OitTkf74BP
— John Frascella (Football) (@NFLFrascella) February 20, 2025
LA’s matchup against the Hornets was the first time we saw Luka and LeBron in a late game situation together and it was the 40 year old who took the final shot. Luka says it was because James had the hot hand.
“He had it going, so obviously we’re going to go to him,” Doncic said. “I think it will go both ways. One time it’s going to be him, one time me. So, I think it depends how the game is going.”
Redick put ball in LeBron’s hands
LeBron said the play was drawn up by coach J.J. Redick who dialed up a set that would give the all-time leading scorer the ball in his hands. “We run the set that JJ draws up,” said James. “You execute it. And we executed it. We just didn’t make it.”
LeBron had 16 points in the fourth quarter which was more than Luka scored all game. In the three games Doncic has played as a Laker he is averaging just short of 15 ppg, and is still looking to find his rhythm after returning from injury.
“He still doesn’t know all the plays, he doesn’t know all the defensive coverages, all the signals and things that we’ve built since September,” James said. “So, obviously we’re trying to fast-track it on the fly. He’s coming back from his injury. He’s getting back into form. So, we’re all working through it together.”
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