LeBron James: ‘Luka Doncic doesn’t need to bend his game for me’

LeBron James keeps scoring like time forgot about him. Thirty more Tuesday night. Another win. Another reminder that the usual rules don’t apply.

But after the visiting Lakers beat the Pelicans 111-103, James wasn’t interested in reclaiming center stage. He was interested in clarifying it.

“Luka doesn’t need to bend his game for me,” James said, via ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “Luka is our franchise.”

That’s the hierarchy. Say it out loud. Say it again if needed.

Luka Doncic scored 30 himself, the second time in three games that both stars hit that mark together. The Lakers have now won three straight despite missing two starters, with James and Doncic doing most of the heavy lifting and plenty of the directing.

James has been especially loud lately. After a slow return from a month-long absence due to sciatica, he’s rounded into form quickly. Seven times in the last 12 games he’s scored 25 or more.

During the current streak, he’s averaging 29 on nearly 59 percent shooting.

Tuesday’s swing came early in the fourth. James erased a seven-point deficit almost by himself. Two threes. An assist. Momentum flipped.

Doncic closed it with defense and two bailout threes, including one while falling out of bounds to beat the clock.

The arrangement works because both sides accept it. James bends. Doncic commands. Everyone else adjusts.

Coach JJ Redick compared James to legendary pitcher Greg Maddux late in his career. Not overpowering every night. Still knowing how to win.

And as for availability on back-to-backs? James was clear.

“Every back-to-back is TBD,” he said. “I’m 41.”