LeBron Notes Growing Ease for Luka Doncic in Los Angeles
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LOS ANGELES — LeBron James believes Luka Doncic has finally settled into life with the Los Angeles Lakers nearly a year after his surprise arrival from the Dallas Mavericks.
Speaking Saturday night, Jan. 24, at American Airlines Center following the Lakers’ 112-107 comeback win in Dallas, James said the 26-year-old guard looks far more at home on and off the court than he did after last season’s mid-year trade.
“The biggest thing is his comfort,” James told reporters. “Getting traded in the middle of a season after seven or eight years here was shocking for everyone, but now he understands the system, the city has embraced him, and we’re rallying around him.”
Doncic, who spent his first seven NBA seasons in Dallas, faced the Mavericks for the first time this season on their home floor. He finished with 29 points, nine assists and seven rebounds, but James emphasized his defense in the closing minutes as the key to securing the win.
Defensive Effort Draws Praise
Head coach JJ Redick echoed James’ assessment, crediting Doncic for several late stops that swung momentum. Redick has pushed the four-time All-NBA selection to improve on that end after an offseason conditioning program trimmed weight and increased agility.
“He came up with multiple stops when it mattered,” Redick said. “That changed the game.”
The Feb. 2025 blockbuster that sent Doncic west was so secretive that even James learned of it only when the deal was finalized. The transaction remains one of the most unexpected in league history, and Saturday’s matchup offered the clearest indication yet that the Lakers’ new star is embracing his role as the franchise’s focal point.
Source: Lakers Nation
