New role, found ambitions: why these playoffs can change everything for LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers

When launching her duel with the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday evening, LeBron James will therefore have faced the vast majority of NBA franchises in playoffs. 80% of them. Only six have never crossed paths with King: the Cleveland Cavaliers, an organization whose colors he defended for more than ten years (in two passages), the Los Angeles Lakers, his current team, the Los Angeles Clippers, Utah Jazz, the Sacramento Kings and the New Orleans Pelicans. It is a purely anecdotal statistical fact which testifies the impressive longevity of the 40 -year basketball player. He saw everything, all lived and (almost) defeated everything.

It is, moreover, his most convincing argument in the inevitable debate which opposes him to Michael Jordan for the honorary title of best player of all time. James and especially his communication teams have been based on this aspect of his career with the media for several years. It amounts to saying that he is the greatest because he is eternal. The battle of the rings has been lost for a long time. And again, although … everything has changed since February 1.

That day, a gift fell from the sky in favor of the Los Angeles Lakers-decidedly still them-when Nico Harrison and the Dallas Mavericks made the decision to transfer Luka Doncic in the exchange of Anthony Davis. A 25 -year -old superstar, fresh out of a course to the NBA finals, admiring LeBron but also precisely respected by James, who arrives in California. Enough to completely upset the perspectives, and perhaps even the plans, at the end of his career of the native of Akron.

While he was talking about retirement after a first round of Playoffs lost to the Denver Nuggets last year, LBJ approaches his 18th campaign (in 22 seasons) with the dream of winning a new trophy. His fifth. A possibility on which he had undoubtedly drawn a line. Davis and did the job by going to get a coronation in the Disney bubble in 2020. But despite a conference final in 2023, which is more in a particular context, the Lakers have always been far from the account. Everything is relaunched with Doncic.

For the first time, LeBron James evolves with a better player than him (at this stage of their respective careers of course). Or at least a better playmaker than him, if we consider it, and it can eventually be defended, that Anthony Davis was even more important than the King at the Quadruple NBA champion is still part of the gratin. On the other hand, it no longer seems quite able to lead a team to the title by being the first option. And it is completely normal after more than two decades spent among the pros! If his physical performance is breathtaking and sometimes make (often) to forget his age, it is undeniable that he has started his decline. He remains able to take a match, and even a series on his own. But not four in a row.

That's good, there is now the Slovenian who is there for that. Doncouic runs at an average of 30.9 points in 50 playoff matches. Only Jordan is doing better. The former Real Madrid prodigy is an incredible performer at this level of competition. James was also. And he will have a unique opportunity to be once again … but in a different role. It is an incredible boon. The opposing defenses will first be focused on Luka. He will have spaces to exploit and probably a little more freedom to attack. More than he has never had it so far. The presence of his young teammate, and even Austin Reaves who has passed a significant landing, takes pressure from the shoulders of James. He no longer needs to direct each possession at each match. He no longer has the juice anyway to dissect a defense for 48 minutes. He can now save and attack more intelligently, in key situations.

It will also ask him to sometimes mop in the skin in a duty player, whether in attack to put screens, cut or evolve without the ball, and obviously in defense. The Lakers already have two friable (but strong) rear with Doncouic and Reaves. LeBron cannot afford not to make defensive efforts. That too, it uses energy. He has been doing them more and more frequently for three months. As if this transfer had reboosted him. Remotivated to believe in an end that he no longer dared to imagine. A last shot for a ring, to mark its place a little more in history.