The Los Angeles Lakers arguably had two once-in-a-lifetime talents before the start of February.
Of course, the league has never seen a player quite like LeBron James. Hall of Fame center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is possibly the only player who measures up his combination of talent, dominance, and longevity. Even then, James is the more skilled and athletic player.
For all of the criticism Anthony Davis has endured for his lack of durability, he’s generational too. He runs like a gazelle, can score from anywhere in the halfcourt, knows how to be a facilitator, and is a dynamic defender. The only active big men who check all of those boxes are San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama and Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley. Davis is more dominant on the interior than either.
LeBron James Ponders Possibility Luka Doncic Prolongs Career
When the Lakers traded Davis to the Dallas Mavericks for Luka Doncic, it felt like they got an even rarer star. A player so good that he might even extend James’s career. Yet, when asked about that possibility, James was coy.
“I have not given it that type of thought,” James says, per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “Just the excitement of being able to add a caliber player like that, a generational talent like that to our franchise, it’s something that’s given me energy. I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do. … I think we could be really good going down the stretch. But we’ll see what happens.”
Again, the conversation about whether Doncic’s arrival would affect when he retired began immediately after the Slovenian’s acquisition. The idea isn’t far-fetched either, especially considering James’s comments.
At the end of the day, with Father Time on his heels, he’s had the end of his career on his mind for years. However, he hasn’t played alongside someone quite like Doncic.
A Different World
To be fair to Davis, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh, they’re all extremely talented players who have proven they can be the No. 1 option on a playoff team.
Davis did it with the New Orleans Pelicans. Irving did it with the Boston Celtics. Love did it with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Wade did it with the Miami Heat. Bosh did it with the Toronto Raptors.
Yet, Doncic’s superior to each player in regards to his scoring and passing ability. This makes him the type of player who can take over the reins from James, yes. He’s also capable of making the game easier for James, giving him less work to do when he wants to put the ball in the basket.
It’s a different world for James. One where he can legitimately be a No. 2 (or 1B) instead of the No. 1 option (or 1A). With less of a workload, why wouldn’t he be able to extend his career?
The Last Word On LeBron James
To address James’s comments specifically, the Doncic trade has “given (him) energy.” Truly, it’s seemingly recharged James’s batteries. Ever since the deal was announced, he’s had more pep in his step, flying around the court.
Now, change can often be refreshing in and of itself. But when said change includes “a generational talent” like Doncic?
That being said, there’s really only one question. How much juice does the 21-time All-Star have at a full capacity when he’s already on the wrong side of 40? Depending on that answer, it may not matter how good life with Doncic is.
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