Before Luka Doncic dropped 32 points in the Lakers’ win over the Nuggets on Saturday, his return to Los Angeles after a six-week calf injury had been underwhelming. Many expected a quicker adjustment, but that was never going to be the case, as written by NBA insider Tim Bontemps of ESPN.
The transition from playing as the undisputed leader in Dallas to sharing the spotlight with LeBron James has been anything but smooth.
“There’s still an adjustment period to play with LeBron,” one Eastern Conference executive said, via Bontemps. “But he’s going to be just fine once he gets his feet wet and gets comfortable.”
The reality is, the duo of Doncic and James — two of the most dynamic and inventive players to ever step on the hardwood — will eventually mesh. The potential is undeniable.
But while the chemistry between them will come, there are still lingering issues that can’t be ignored. The Lakers roster is far from perfect. Their perimeter shooting remains inconsistent, and with the rescinded Mark Williams trade from Charlotte, the team’s interior defense and rim protection are also in limbo.
“As long as Jaxson Hayes is your only lob threat, it’s only going to look so good,” a Western Conference executive said. “Doncic is a fantastic player, so I have no doubt things will stabilize. But I’m not sure it happens this season.”
In other words, the Lakers’ timeline for truly contending with this revamped roster may take a little longer to materialize than many had hoped. Time will tell, but it’s clear: the road ahead could be bumpier than initially expected.
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