Luka Doncic is a better passer than LeBron James, says former NBA champion

Luka Doncic might supplant LeBron James as the Lakers' best passer, according to a 2020-21 NBA champion with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Luka Doncic is a better passer than LeBron James, says former NBA champion

Jeff Teague dishes on why Luka Doncic is a better passer than LeBron James

All anyone can talk about over the last few weeks is what the pairing of Luka Doncic with LeBron James looks like on the Los Angeles Lakers. After the two finally shared the court together on Monday against the Utah Jazz, NBA fans finally had the answer to watching two of the most dynamic point-forwards in the league don purple and gold. While much has been made of their fit together, the answer might lie in their passing skills, according to Jeff Teague.

Teague, the former All-Star and NBA Champion, spoke about his thoughts on the pairing of Doncic and James on his Club 520 podcast. Both James and Doncic are incredible players and some of the most talented in this generation. But Jeff Teague revealed why he thinks Luka Doncic might be a better playmaker and passer than LeBron James.

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They similar players, Bron just so good at basketball, Luka is too, and Luka probably, I hate to say this, he probably a better passer than Bron. And it’s crazy to say because Bron is like a great passer. I’m telling you, the way Luka can find people is crazy.

Jeff Teague said on 520

Both players have a very similar playstyle, although the 40-year-old James directs most of his game towards the paint, whereas Doncic is a considerable threat from far beyond the arc as well. In terms of passing, however, the comparison is much closer. The comparison between James and Doncic draws on very fine margins in terms of their playmaking and passing.

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Both are nearly identical in terms of numbers, with LeBron James averaging 7.4 assists and Luka Doncic averaging 8.3 assists for their careers. The two players also excel while playing alongside a squad of shooters and vertical lob threats. According to Teague, the only differentiator in terms of their playmaking is Doncic’s court vision, which might tip the scales in the Slovenian star’s favor.

‘Poor man’s Luka Doncic’ weighs in on LeBron James-Luka Doncic pairing

Jeff Teague’s podcast is easily one of the most entertaining in the league. On a recent episode of the podcast, Teague had dubbed Lakers star Austin Reaves as ‘a poor man’s Luka Doncic’. Now, Reaves gets to play alongside Doncic and LeBron James as a definitive 3rd option on the offense. After Doncic’s Lakers debut, Reaves dished on what sharing the court with megastars like James and Doncic feels like.

I just think it could be a thing of beauty. The way we can manipulate the game on the offensive end and get what we want every single possession. Luka is one of the best passers in the world, and that’s why I just… I think it’s just the high-level IQ going along with pieces that really fit.

Austin Reaves per Lakers Nation

The trio of James, Doncic, and Reaves provides a very interesting look at the floor for the Lakers. All three are players who can score and make plays for teammates at will. Reaves, in fact, has taken several leaps as a primary scoring option for the Lakers, and he pairs perfectly with ball-dominant stars like James and Doncic by playing off-ball.

In Doncic’s Lakers debut against the Utah Jazz, the chemistry between the three was on full display. Over just 16 minutes on the floor together, the Lakers posted an offensive rating of 137.1, a defensive rating of 91.7, and a staggering net rating of 45.5. While these numbers certainly won’t sustain for the entire season, they provide a great look at this Lakers team’s potential.