Might we see a pairing of Luka Dončić and LeBron James on the same team? According to one NBA insider, it’s at least something LeBron could try for.
On Thursday morning, Brian Windhorst spoke on ESPN’s Get Up. He briefly addressed LeBron’s comments about wanting to play with Steph Curry — something Curry was not interested in. Windhorst noted that the present contracts of both would make that difficult anyway. But he did note that LeBron would also like to play with Dončić.
As proof, Windhorst cited the fact that LeBron has drafted Dončić onto his All-Star team every year that Dončić has been an All-Star. He also noted that LeBron tried to recruit Dončić into his Nike brand.
.@WindhorstESPN says to keep the idea of LeBron and Luka teaming up in your back pocket 👀
"The best way you can see how LeBron feels about people is who he drafts in his All-Star draft. … He's drafted Luka Doncic all three years he's been an All-Star." pic.twitter.com/L5l9KIReSj
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) April 7, 2022
“Don’t ever judge LeBron 100% on his words. Judge him on his actions. The best way you can see how LeBron feels about people? See who he drafts in his All-Star draft? He has drafted Luka Doncic all three years he’s been an All-Star. He tried to recruit Luka Doncic to his brand within Nike a few years ago. Luka picked the Jordan brand instead.”
“He, I think, would also love to play with Luka. And in the fantasy world, to use Steph Curry’s words, if you want to enter the fantasy realm, that is something that I think is more worthy of having a discussion about as opposed to Steph — down the line. I don’t think Lebron’s going anywhere in the short term.”
The response to this notion was mixed.
There was intrigue for sure. Some Dallas Mavericks fans would welcome LeBron with open arms.
🎶Come on Lebron put your Mavericks jersey on,
It's time to get it on,
Come to Dallas🎶 @SkinWade @BenRogers #MFFL https://t.co/F6GXA6xCBw— Buckets & Beyond (@BucketsBeyond) April 7, 2022
If lebron don’t blow up our team I’m about it https://t.co/lzLlmToIcp
— Josh wilson -X (@lukafanaccount) April 7, 2022
https://twitter.com/Relax_B13/status/1512100425419399168
But there was also a healthy dose of skepticism — for various reasons.
How have we not effectively cut the throat on Lakers/LeBron coverage now that they’re dead and buried?
And if they want to autopsy this failed experiment, fine. But this isn’t even news, it’s complete and total fan fiction getting air time
This is beyond stupid https://t.co/DejmNjMvFA
— Ryan Berger (@RyanBerger) April 7, 2022
This might be the dumbest take this man has had yet, which is astonishing considering all the other wild stuff he's tried to peddle as fact and prediction.
The ESPN talking head machine has been absurd for years now, but somehow they keep finding a way to be even more absurd. https://t.co/7dYf6uEt7b
— Chris Wooden (@slowdumars) April 7, 2022
This man said “my source is the all star game draft” https://t.co/ygjg9Kj6r6
— Woody (@michaelwood_13) April 7, 2022
Truly don’t understand why we keep putting him on TV https://t.co/nDWbsOLmfL
— Eric (@EricSperlazza13) April 7, 2022
https://twitter.com/jdmdevpr/status/1512145839485075461
https://twitter.com/LakewitaB/status/1512105695038124037
lets stop this narrative right now https://t.co/gjhCu9TxbR
— Manuel 🐝 (@itsmethesadboyy) April 7, 2022
How about we pay attention to the awesome basketball we're about to see in next week's playoffs rather than talking about LeBron playing with someone who just signed a five year contract https://t.co/SiOwGPmmix
— Brendon Kleen (@BrendonKleen14) April 7, 2022
It’s intriguing to think about, if nothing else. As Windhorst stated, even if it is something, the pairing probably wouldn’t happen for a while.
In the more immediate future, LeBron will likely have to find less splashy ways to improve the Los Angeles Lakers — which may be easier said than done.
Related: NBA world reacts to Lakers being eliminated from playoff contention
