Stephen A. Smith cries for ‘drug test’ after wild LeBron James – Luka Doncic take on live TV

Stephen A. Smith was taken aback by First Take co-host Shannon Sharpe's spicy take about the Luka Doncic and LeBron James led Lakers.

Stephen A. Smith cries for ‘drug test’ after wild LeBron James – Luka Doncic take on live TV

Stephen A. Smith isn't yet sold on the LeBron James and Luka Doncic pairing

Stephen A. Smith could not believe his ears on the latest edition of First Take. All eyes have been on the potential that the pairing of LeBron James and Luka Doncic holds together on the Los Angeles Lakers roster. With Doncic making his debut in Purple and Gold on Monday, fans and analysts like Smith were watching eagerly to see what the team is capable of.

The Lakers showcased their potential with an emphatic win over the Utah Jazz, which ultimately led Stephen A. Smith’s co-host Shannon Sharpe to make an outrageous claim about the ceiling of this Lakers squad. While speaking on First Take, Sharpe revealed that he believes that the Lakers will defeat the league-leading OKC Thunder if the two teams were to face off in the Western Conference playoffs. Smith, however, was not going to accept that take without opposition.

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Shannon need to be drug tested, something wrong with you right now, something absolutely wrong with you right now.

Stephen A Smith proclaimed

According to Sharpe, the Lakers strength and size at the forward position would prove to be too much for a younger and quicker squad like the Thunder. This take sent Smith into disbelief, as the Thunder currently stand as the best team in the NBA with a league leading 43-9 record and one of the best units on both ends of the floor.

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Stephen A. Smith has been on record about his views on the pairing of Luka Doncic and LeBron James. While he is a fan of the future for the Lakers, he isn’t sold on their championship aspirations this season, especially as the Lakers may have to run through a team like the Denver Nuggets led by Nikola Jokic, who have proven to be their kryptonite over the last few seasons.

Stephen A. Smith declines LeBron James and Luka Doncic’s claim for best duo

The LeBron James-Luka Doncic pairing has the potential to become one of the most deadly duos in the league. Not only are both the stars dynamic point-forwards who can create a shot for themselves or their teammates at any time, they are also two of the smartest players in the league. However, Stephen A. Smith does not see their pairing as ranking among the best in the league.

I haven’t given up on [Nikola] Jokic and [Jamal] Murray, I have not given up on that at all. That’s going to stand, that’s going to… I’m going to stand on that for the time being. We can’t even see anybody in Dallas with Kyrie [Irving] and AD [Anthony Davis], AD already down. Okay? I mean, I got to think about Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and who’s his Robin, and stuff like that. That’s right, of course, [Jalen] Williams, but I’m just looking at from the standpoint that right now. It’s got to be Jokic and Murray until further notice.

Stephen A Smith on First Take

When asked by Shannon Sharpe about who he believes is the best duo in the NBA, Smith selected Denver’s Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, the 2023 championship-winning duo as his pick. On paper, the pairing between Jokic and Murray is the most solid given the classic duo of a dynamic guard alongside an unstoppable big man.

Given that LeBron James and Luka Doncic have barely shared the court together so far, the position for the best duo in the league is still up to individual interpretation. But one thing is for certain, James and Doncic will definitely be one of the most unstoppable offensive pairings in the league going forward.