Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Dončić said that he and LeBron James would alternate taking the last shot in close games based on the situation they are in.
“He had it going, so obviously we’re going to go to him,” Doncic said following LA’s 100-97 February 19th loss to the Charlotte Hornets. “I think it will go both ways. One time it’s going to be him, one time me. So I think it depends how the game is going.”
Down three with roughly six seconds left in the fourth quarter, LeBron missed two three-point attempts that would have tied the game and sent the contest to overtime. Despite the misses, James “felt pretty good” about the plays that were drawn up by Lakers head coach JJ Redick.
“It’s not really about [LeBron James] … The pressure is on Luka.” 😳 @WindhorstESPN on why the Lakers’ ceiling this season rests on Luka Doncic’s play more than LeBron’s 👀 pic.twitter.com/eh96FtlHU9
— First Take (@FirstTake) February 20, 2025
“We run the set that JJ draws up,” LeBron said after the game. “You execute it. And we executed it. We just didn’t make it.”
Redick said that having two players who can take the last shot is a good problem to have. He also clarified why he drew up the last play of Wednesday’s game for LeBron.
“As a coach, you’re excited that you have two guys that can be the passer and be the guy who gets the pass,” Redick said. “But it felt like LeBron, particularly in the fourth, just found a nice rhythm, and I felt really comfortable with that. And we got two good looks.”
Dončić struggling early in his Lakers tenure
As monumentally league-altering as the Luka Dončić-Anthony Davis trade was, it hasn’t been smooth sailing for LA so far. Since joining the Lakers, Dončić is averaging less than 15 points per game while shooting 35.6% from the field, well below his career average of 28.5 points per game on 46.9% shooting. Regardless, Dončić doesn’t sound too worried about his recent issues.
“Obviously, it’s going to take a little time,” he said. “Today, a lot of rustiness for my part. Started the game with like four or five turnovers. That can’t happen. So just got to play basketball the right way.”
LeBron went to bat for his teammate, explaining how it’ll take time for Dončić to get acclimated to the Lakers’ gameplans and coaching styles.
“He still doesn’t know all the plays. He doesn’t know all the defensive coverages, all the signals and things that we’ve built since September,” James said. “So obviously we’re trying to fast-track it on the fly. He’s coming back from his injury. He’s getting back into form. So we’re all working through it together.”
