Luka Doncic got here to the NBA in 2018 calling LeBron James his idol. The primary time they went head-to-head, Doncic requested James through the recreation if he might have his jersey. And after that recreation, Doncic headed to the Los Angeles Lakers locker room to choose up the memento.
James wrote a message on the purple jersey.
“Try for greatness,” James scrawled, these phrases being his longtime mantra.
Right here they’re, virtually seven years later, set to try for extra greatness — collectively. The commerce that occurred over the weekend to ship Doncic to the Lakers and Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks creates a brand new celebrity pairing for James to see what he can do with. There was James and Kyrie Irving, James and Dwyane Wade, James and Davis and now, James and Doncic.
Will it work? There’s just one manner for it to be declared the final word success. James and Irving received a title collectively in Cleveland. James and Wade received two titles as teammates in Miami. James and Davis received a championship for the Lakers within the bubble in 2020.
No strain, Luka.
“I imply, it was superb,” Doncic stated of that day in 2018 when he performed towards James for the primary time. “It was one thing particular for me, for positive. I seemed as much as him as my idol. It was simply nice for me. Like I stated, it was particular, and it is going to be a day that I keep in mind.”
The Lakers hope James and Doncic have a whole lot of particular days to recollect going ahead.
The commerce turned official just a few hours after James — who’s 40, which is hard to recollect at instances given the numbers he nonetheless places up — had a completely spectacular recreation at Madison Sq. Backyard: 33 factors, 12 assists and 11 rebounds in a win over the New York Knicks. James turned the second participant to have such a stat line at MSG. The opposite was Oscar Robertson, who did it in 1963 and 1965.
James, when he is at his finest, remains to be principally unstoppable. He is had 4 video games of 30 or extra factors since turning 40, tying Michael Jordan for probably the most ever in that division. He is averaging 25 factors per recreation since turning 40. He has extra triple-doubles as a 40-year-old (two) than each different 40something in NBA historical past has mixed (one).
And now he will get a 25-year-old working mate in Doncic who reminds James of himself in a complete bunch of the way.
“I really like every thing about his recreation,” James stated in 2022. “I really like every thing about him. The best way he performs the sport jogs my memory of the best way I play the sport. We’re simply triple threats. We rebound. We move, which is the No. 1 factor on our thoughts, attempting to maintain our teammates engaged and retaining our teammates feeling good on the ground, retaining our teammates in rhythm. And we’ll put 40 on you, too, when you disrespect us.”
Doncic, like James, has performed issues the league has just about by no means seen earlier than. Doncic has one of many two 60-point triple-doubles in NBA historical past; James Harden has the opposite. Doncic is one in every of 4 gamers to attain not less than 73 factors in a recreation. His scoring common is third all-time behind solely Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain.
And now he and James are teammates, Batman and Robin in some order, put collectively to win, win large and win now. James has lasted 22 years within the league due to his extraordinary dedication to health and self-discipline; the Lakers are certainly hoping a few of that affect rubs off on Doncic, who not often appears to be in the most effective of form — although places up monster numbers anyway.
It is virtually like James was prepared this new pairing into existence again within the years when the All-Star Recreation had captains who drafted their very own groups. James stored choosing Doncic for his groups, calling him “Luka Magic” just a few instances in these years. They usually sat collectively on the bench in these video games. They warmed up alongside each other. Doncic clearly by no means stopped trying as much as James as an idol.
“He is the most effective,” Doncic stated.
On the night time he went to go get that signed jersey, Doncic solely made it to the doorways of the Lakers’ locker room. He is welcome contained in the room now. And there is one other jersey ready for him.
It has a special identify on the again than the one he acquired in 2018. A special quantity, too. However the message can be precisely the identical. The Lakers introduced Doncic in to try for greatness.
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