The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Miami Heat 134-126 on Thursday night with Luka Doncic’s 60-point night stealing the headlines, but LeBron James’ triple-double played a key role in the team’s eighth straight win. After the victory on the second night of a back-to-back, the 41-year-old slammed anyone who thought the Lakers were better without him. James has bought into a new role, and LA suddenly looks like a serious title threat.
LeBron had 19 points, 15 rebounds, and ten assists in Miami. He made eight of his 12 field goals just one night after going for 30 points on 14 shots. King James wants to win and always finds a way to help his team. Things are different with Luka Doncic leading the way, but LeBron is still making everyone around him better.
James is taking his victory lap on his critics. There was plenty of chatter about the team being better without the GOAT, but that is clearly not true. The Lakers have won eight of the last nine that LeBron has appeared in, and his ability to make plays on both ends has been massive. LBJ isn’t afraid to let everyone know, too.
LeBron James emphatically says his critics were wrong
When asked about the fit between him, Luka, and Austin Reaves, LeBron was quick to make the crucial point.
“I was out a couple of weeks ago. I was able to come back and to see how I can best fit those guys because they were just playing so dynamically off one another. It sells papers a lot easier. And clippings and podcasts, if you say LeBron, their team is better without him. A lot of people will try to view it, so I get it. They're absolutely wrong.”
James is embracing being the number three option just like Kevin Love and Chris Bosh did for him years ago. Those two weren’t in the greatest of all-time debate, but they were All-Star suited up next to prime superstars. Someone has to sacrifice, and LeBron’s ability to impact the game in several ways makes him the ideal candidate.
With this version of LeBron, the Lakers look unstoppable. They have won eight straight and 11 of 12 to vault to third in the Western Conference. The streak includes victories over the Nuggets, Timberwolves, Knicks, and Rockets. Those are four elite teams that consider themselves serious title threats. That firmly puts the Lakers in that category after everyone wrote them off.
LA has Luka Doncic playing like the best player on the planet and two stars flanking him. The star trio always had the potential, and fans are now seeing it become reality. LeBron is taking the victory lap because he knows this is just the beginning. This team is special and just keeps getting better.
The Los Angeles Lakers are better with LeBron James. Fans never believed the talking heads, but the noise certainly existed. King James was always going find his ideal role and maximize his team’s shot at winning. For all the hate, LeBron wants a fifth ring and is motivated to get it. The Lakers look like they have a serious shot to win it all. King James is loving it and making sure to let his naysayers have it for doubting him. Fans know doing that always comes at a high risk, and it backfired on anyone who tried it this time.