Luka Doncic Explains His Pace Manipulation on Mind the Game With LeBron James: “I Just Don’t Show It”

Luka Doncic and LeBron James are both adept at pacing their play and their teams' offensive rhythms.

Luka Doncic Explains His Pace Manipulation on Mind the Game With LeBron James: “I Just Don’t Show It”

Luka Doncic (Image by FirstSportz)

One of the most interesting and tragic trades of all time shook the NBA to it’s core this past season. Luka Doncic, fresh off a season leading his franchise to the NBA Finals, was moved barely eight months after. He became the greatest trade acquisition for the NBA – at least in shock value terms – ever. It was so foolhardy as a trade in theory that even newsbreaker Shams Charania had to shoot down hacking claims.

However, after the dust settled down, ardent basketball fans turned their attention to matters on the court. There were games to be played, firsts to be unlocked and new sights to be devoured and discussed. Luka Doncic immediately became the most shrewd playmaker that LeBron James has ever played with. His ability as a floor general, controller, manipulator and his overall offensive IQ is in the same mould.

Fans have already seen sneak peeks of rare levels of telepathic understanding between these two modern basketball icons. Doncic has made an assortment of sumptuous fast-break passing plays to James that have lit up highlight reels. The two have showed a level of coordination that took NBA fans back to James’ Miami era. Dwyane Wade may have competition soon for the spot of James’ best hookup partner.

Doncic was a guest with LeBron James and Steve Nash on Mind the Game recently. In an episode uploaded on YouTube on June 1, the trio of all-time great playmakers broke bread and revealed their own recipes on how to dice up opposition defenses. All three of them have their own unique playmaking styles tailored to their own offensive strengths.

However, it’s Luka Doncic who always operates at a more leisurely pace compared to the other two. While discussing Western Conference champions OKC Thunder’s physicality and roughness, Steve Nash remarked that his lack of speed had always been a good weapon of deception. Doncic agreed partially, but characterized it as

I have speed. I just don’t show it.

James chipped in with his understanding of how Doncic imposes his tempo on the offense.

It’s always at his pace. It’s always been his pace. It’s never been a game be like ‘Okay, well, you can speed me up. He can speed me up. Okay, this bigger guy can be more physical. Okay, this smaller guy can get up underneath me.’ It’s like, he moves at his own pace and he’s never ever been on a floor where he’s allowed someone to dictate where they’re going to put him on the floor. It’s always been the opposite, and for us when we’re all working off of that, we just gotta stay ready.

LeBron James on rushing Luka Doncic

James’ words are a great breakdown of how Luka Doncic approaches the task of running an efficient offense. He has airtight handles, a big body and a basketball brain that keeps him ahead of resourceful defenders.

Can Luka Doncic find success with LeBron James?

Father Time will forever stay undefeated, and the 2025 NBA playoffs are proving that even basketball’s most durable legend is now on the wane. James only has a season or two of All-Star caliber play left in his body. People have speculated whether he can play alongside his second son Bryce James as well.

With Doncic suffering an illness in Game 3, James turned the clock back one final time. He hung 36 points on the physically swarming Timberwolves, including a flurry of threes in the final period. Yet, this was but a pale imitation of his peak from over a decade back in South Beach.

GM Rob Pelinka has some more maneuvers to pull off if he thinks he can maximize the championship window for the most famous franchise in American sports.

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