Luka Doncic may have just revived LeBron James' chance to do something historic

Is it too early to plan the parade in Los Angeles? The naysayers will be quick to chime in saying that it is only one game. Not only is it just one game, but it's a game against the Utah Jazz. NBA championships have not been won against the Jazz since the late 1990s.

While that sentiment is certainly fair and the Los Angeles Lakers could not have picked a better matchup to set the tone for the Luka Doncic era, there were also plenty of positive signs to have one believe there could be something special brewing in Hollywood. Perhaps that is the feeling of a future documentary getting ready to be put into production, showcasing a story about LeBron James and his journey towards the fifth championship of his career.

Doncic's arrival in Los Angeles blows the title window wide open

The debut of Doncic in a Lakers jersey was easily one of the most highly-anticipated moments in an NBA regular season game for quite some time. The moment certainly lived up to the hype.

The first appearance of the Slovenian superstar in purple and gold featured a lot of the elements that fans of Doncic's game are accustomed to. There were some pattented Luka lobs being thrown around. Step-back 3-pointers were being drained. Fallaway jumpers were dropping from the mid-range area. There was even a pretty outlet pass to James that established their connection early.

Furthermore, the Lakers were playing with energy, flying all over the place both offensively and defensively. They clearly understood the importance of this game.

Los Angeles shot 60% from the field in the first half, posting 72 points in the process. Between having Doncic and James to help ensure the ball found the best shot, and sprinkling in a healthy dosage of Austin Reaves into the mix, the Lakers' offensive attack looked deadly. Each starter for Los Angeles broke into double digits on the night.

Rookie head coach JJ Redick joined the Lakers this offseason, hoping to utilize Anthony Davis as an offensive hub. With all due respect to Davis, Doncic gives him a far superior option in that regard. The healthier the new Lakers superstar gets and the more settled he becomes into his new environment, the legitimate label of 'title contenders' will seems less and less far-fetched.

As long as James can settle into a role that involves more off-ball movement than the 40-year-old has been used to over recent years, there is little reason to believe the Lakers cannot grow into an elite offense that will strike fear into every opponent they face.

Depending on how Redick plans to orchestrate the minutes of Doncic and James, the Lakers should have very few stretches without an all-time great offensive engine on the court. Plus, if there is ever a time when the team needs to rest both, Reaves is an incredibly talented fallback option.

There may still be holes to patch up on this roster. Perhaps those will ultimately prove too tough to overcome during the 2024-25 NBA season. However, Doncic joining James in Los Angeles should offer the future first-ballot Hall of Fame inductee a chance at his second ring with the Lakers organization and fifth of his illustrious career.