LeBron James and Luka Doncic’s latest win has ex-champ finally believing in Lakers

LeBron James and Luka Doncic's win over the Dallas Mavericks earned them the praise of Kendrick Perkins as future contenders.

LeBron James and Luka Doncic’s latest win has ex-champ finally believing in Lakers

LeBron James and Luka Doncic hailed as championship contenders

Sometimes, all it takes is pairing two all-time great players who can do everything on the floor together to create a championship-worthy roster in the NBA. That’s exactly what the Los Angeles Lakers did by trading for Luka Doncic to pair with LeBron James. While many were skeptical about the fit of James and Doncic together, their recent success is proving that they may be a serious threat in the West.

After the Lakers’ victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday, ESPN Analyst and former NBA Champion Kendrick Perkins hopped aboard the Lakers train. He expressed his belief in the future of the Lakers as potential contenders, especially expressing his faith in the pairing of LeBron James and Luka Doncic working together as one of the top duos in the league.

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Yep. LeBron and Luka can and will work!!!

Kendrick Perkins tweeted

Just weeks ago, following the blockbuster, Perkins was on record defending the Lakers’ decision to pair James with Doncic. This came amidst concerns of a 40-year-old James having to switch to more off-ball duties during games with Doncic by his side. James, who has excelled as the primary weapon on offense with the ball in his hands throughout his career, is proving Kendrick Perkins and the Lakers right.

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Following a shaky start to the Luka Doncic era in Los Angeles, the Lakers have rattled off consecutive wins with Doncic in the lineup, including an impressive victory over the Denver Nuggets on Saturday. A huge part of their success has been the partnership of Doncic and James on the floor together, as they seem to have found the perfect fit playing off each other’s strengths.

James, especially, has become even more potent on offense, with defenses having to focus on a scoring and playmaking threat like Doncic.

Stephen A. Smith believes Luka Doncic may prolong LeBron James career

LeBron James is entering an unprecedented phase in his career. At 40 years old, the four-time NBA champion is still playing at an elite level, but questions about his longevity have grown louder with each passing season. Now, with Luka Doncic donning the purple and gold, James may have found the perfect co-star to not only lighten his workload but also extend his career. Or so Stephen A. Smith believes.

[Luka] may have actually extended and prolonged the career of LeBron James. Nobody knows how long [LeBron] will play now. We thought we had an idea, but Luka changes things.

Stephen A. Smith stated on First Take

With a player like Doncic set to shoulder a significant offensive burden as he becomes more and more comfortable in the Lakers system, James can preserve his body and focus on making an appearance when it matters most. This was on display on Tuesday when James, who coasted through for most of the game, dialed up the intensity in the fourth quarter, dropping 16 points in the final period of the game.

For now, though, LeBron James doesn’t seem ready to hand over the reins entirely. With Luka Doncic taking on more playmaking responsibilities, James can still dominate in spurts, much like he did during his peak years. The difference is that he no longer has to do it for 40 minutes a night, mostly. If managed correctly, this setup could push James’ career further than even the most optimistic projections.