LeBron James’ ‘seamless’ start boosts Luka Doncic’s Lakers into contention 👀 – Wilbon | PTI

LeBron James’ ‘seamless’ start boosts Luka Doncic’s Lakers into contention 👀 – Wilbon | PTI

saw LeBron James, the King, make his season debut, 23rd season, puts up a double double, had 11 points, but 12 assists. And the Lakers put up a season high 140 points in a win over the Jazz. He took only seven shots. That’s his fewest in any game that he’s ever played in when he’s played at least 25 minutes. Jay, you know, he made some history starting his 23rd NBA season last night. That breaks the tie with Vince Carter for the most seasons in NBA history. 82 active players were born after LeBron made his debut as an 18-year-old in October of 2003. For more, here’s Tony and Mike with PTI’s bonus segment. All right, Willon, what was your biggest takeaway from LeBron’s season debut? How seamless he made it, Tony. Usually when players as prolific as LeBron James come back into a lineup after a month in a season, you got to make adjustments. You’re going to lose a couple of games. You got to get used to that guy cuz he’s going to have the ball. Damn it, he should have the ball. He’s LeBron James. But LeBron doesn’t subscribe to that. You look at last night, Tony. He played 30 minutes and took seven shots. Behind ahead of him in number of shots taken. Luca had 22. Austin Reeves had 11. Hachimura had eight. Eighton had 13 shots. And Laura, who you probably couldn’t identify, could not. All right. He had 10 shots. So LeBron didn’t care about that. He’s been watching and diagnosing what this team needs. As a result, the Lakers to me are a threat. Denver’s the number one threat in the West to OKC. The Lakers might be right behind him. Okay, I’ll be very brief. Leaving out Houston, but LeBron James may no longer be the best player, but he can still be the most important player if he is willing to sublimate his game and let Luca flourish. Yep. You know, that’s why you make that trade that is insanely offered to you that you can get Luca. It’s going to be Luca’s team and if LeBron wants to be cooperative with that, if he wants to embrace that, he is still so good that he can make Luca better, make the Lakers better. And I think they I think indeed they are a championship contender. Yeah, I really do. No, I we we agree on that. And Tony, I I think that LeBron doing that, I think that only enhances who LeBron is and who he has been and his importance, not just to the Lakers, but to the league. First of all, anybody under 40 years old want to watch and pay attention to the old man and what he’s doing and how he fits in and what kind of teammate he is. That was that was sort of fun. So on the list of what’s really important in LeBron’s career, everybody will remember the block he made, a defensive play, not an offensive play. Yeah. If he allows Luca to be the star and is supportive, he more than allows it. He’s he’s facility. He sets it up and then and then when they need a big play and they don’t expect it, he makes it. Yeah. It could be. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Fun to have LeBron back. That’s it. We’re done. Back to you. [Music]

On SportsCenter’s bonus segment, Pardon The Interruption’s Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon break down where the Los Angeles Lakers stack up against top NBA teams like the OKC Thunder and Denver Nuggets when fully healthy following LeBron’s season debut.

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