LeBron James is certain his partnership with Luka Doncic will succeed, saying he would have asked for a trade himself if he did not believe in the Los Angeles Lakers' blockbuster move. (More NBA News)
൲Last weekend, the Lakers stunned the NBA by acquiring five-time All-Star Doncic in a mammoth trade with the Dallas Mavericks.
🍬Anthony Davis was sent to Dallas as part of the deal, which many onlookers believe could reshape the entire landscape of the league.
𓂃While the Mavs have lost both of their games since the move was made official, the Lakers beat the Los Angeles Clippers 122-97 on Tuesday, despite Doncic being injured.
🃏James, who had 26 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, frequently took a place alongside Doncic on the Los Angeles bench.
🧸After the victory, James told reporters he had no misgivings about the switch.
✅"If I had concerns about it, I'd waive my no-trade clause and get up out of here," James said. "I'm here right now. I'm here right now. I'm committed to the Lakers organisation.
🀅"As the leader of the team, as one of the captains of the team, it's my job to make it as seamless as possible."
🌳Asked how their partnership will look, James said: "Like whatever we want it to be.
𝔍"It won't take long. I can play with anybody, and I think he can, as well. So, we'll work well together.
🧜"Luka's been my favourite player in the NBA for a while now. I think you guys know that. I've always just tried to play the game the right way and inspire the next generation.
🅘"Luka happens to be one of them, and now we're team-mates. So, it'll be a very seamless transition."
🐭James was enjoying a family dinner in New York City when he heard about the trade on Saturday, having just helped the Lakers beat the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
ဣThe NBA's all-time leading scorer spoke with outgoing forward Davis as soon as the news broke, and he admits it took a while for the trade to seem real.
🐷"It still pretty much didn't seem real until I saw Luka today and I saw a clip of AD at the Dallas shootaround," James said. "That's when it finally hit me, like, 'Oh s***, this is real.'"
🍃"My emotions were all over the place, obviously. We had just come off a big win. A huge win in the Garden. I was out. I mean, you guys have seen the report.
𝔍"I was out with my family at dinner and got the news and the first time I heard it, I thought it was for sure fake. I thought it was a hoax, people messing around or whatever.
ꦏ"Then AD FaceTimed me and I talked to him for quite a while and even when I got off the phone with him, it still didn't seem real."
ꦛAccording to reports from ESPN, Doncic, who has been sidelined since Christmas Day due to a calf injury, could make his Lakers debut against the Indiana Pacers on Saturday.
