LOS ANGELES — LeBron James drew a football analogy to describe his growing connection with Luka Doncic after the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 128-121 at Crypto.com Arena on Jan. 2, 2026.
With several Lakers sidelined, James, 41, and Doncic carried the offense, each topping the 30-point mark to open the new year on a winning note. One highlight came when the Slovenian guard fired a pinpoint full-court pass that led to a James layup, prompting the four-time NBA champion to compare their roles to those on a football field.
“He’s one of the best quarterbacks, and I’m a pretty good receiver,” James said after the game. “My job is to make sure the defense can’t intercept it. He put it right on target and made it easy for me.”
Drawing from football roots
James added that, like Hall of Fame wideout Randy Moss, he avoids showing his hands too early while sprinting in transition, a lesson he picked up during his own high-school football days. He noted that former Cleveland Cavaliers teammate Kevin Love once filled a similar “quarterback” role for him.
Lakers lean on star pair amid injuries
The Lakers’ injury list has pushed more responsibility onto James and Doncic, and head coach JJ Redick praised the veteran forward’s performance. James finished with 31 points, nine rebounds and six assists, numbers Redick labeled “phenomenal” as Los Angeles improved to 1-0 in 2026.
Los Angeles will continue to rely on its two playmakers until injured contributors return to the lineup.
Source: LakersNation.com
