Throughout the season, there has been ongoing discussion about how Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and LeBron James would fit perfectly together. All three operate best with the ball and have the ability to produce at a high scoring level.
Doncic is the No. 1 option, that much is clear. The real layer is between Reaves and LeBron. LeBron still has those explosive nights, but Luka and Reaves as Batman and Robin has been extremely positive for the team. At this stage, LeBron leaning into that balance feels necessary.
The results continue to support that idea, and Lakers head coach JJ Redick sees it clearly. With recent wins and stretches where LeBron was playing third fiddle and where the team held up even without him against the New York Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves, Redick believes they are better with LeBron in that third option role.
“He’s still going to be, and still has been, a high-usage player relative to your average player,” Redick said of James. “The best thing for our team is being the third-highest-used player, you know, and obviously there’s been stretches of the year where he’s had to do more with injuries or guys being out of lineup. “And I think finding a rhythm and a groove within, you know, the rotations and lineups when those three guys play, and I think that’s been the challenge for all of them, not just LeBron, all season.”
