Luka Doncic and LeBron James offer the biggest glimmer of hope as to why the Los Angeles Lakers can compete for an NBA championship in the 2025-26 season, right? Well, Michael Pina and Howard Beck were not sold on that idea.
The Ringer NBA Show compiled a list of the top five best NBA duos heading into the upcoming campaign. Doncic and James were relegated to an honorable mention behind their peers.
"For me, leaving them off the list, a big part of it was defense," Pina stated. "Defense was a factor for sure. It was also just their compatibility together and how these two players are able to get the best out of one another. That is going to be a struggle. ... How do they directly complement each other?"
Pina continued, questioning the offensive pace of how the two would best operate together. The podcast host also had doubts about James' effectiveness when Doncic has the ball in his hands. Beck added off-court doubts regarding the 'cloud' that LeBron has put over the Lakers.
Concerns over Luka Doncic and LeBron James duo overstated tremendously
On paper, there should be no doubt that the Lakers possess the most superstar talented duo in the NBA. In all fairness to Beck and Pina, basketball is not played on paper. It takes place on the hardwood.
That sentiment does not absolve the horrible assessment presented by the pair. The justification for leaving Luka and LeBron out of the top five involves a lot of arguments that are played out or grasping for straws overall.
Defense being 'a factor' for detraction is immediately strange, considering the strong campaign James, in particular, had in 2024-25. The insinuation quickly comes across as an assessment of reputation over results.
The compatibility element is also played up far too high by Pina. No one will disagree with Doncic and James having overlap in their skill set.
However, James quickly proved willing and adaptable to operating away from the basketball more last season. The myth that LeBron can not and does not play off the ball is just that, a myth.
To Beck's concerns, whatever dissatisfaction may exist beyond the basketball court is not an irrelevant topic, but ultimately far from the key factor it gets propped up as. James has always been a professional. The all-time great will deliver when it is time to play.
Is it time for a couple of good jokes? Beck ranked Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler above the Lakers duo. Pina had Victor Wembanyama and De'Aaron Fox placed higher.
There are not five better duos in the league right now than Luka and LeBron. Quite frankly, there may not even be one.
