The arrival of Luka Doncic in Los Angeles brought fresh excitement to the Lakers, but not everyone is convinced the pairing with LeBron James will be enough to secure another championship.
Former Laker Danny Green, who won a ring with the team in 2020, shared his concerns about the team’s current formula for success
Speaking on the All The Smoke podcast, Green was respectful in his tone but clear in his evaluation of the Lakers’ future with a 41-year-old James sharing the spotlight with Doncic.
“I think they’re explosive offensively, (but) I think they lack a lot defensively,” Green said. “I don’t know how many years he (James) has left longer, and it’s just really hard to win a championship when your best player is 40 years old.
Next year, LeBron going to be 41. He can still average 30, 20-something [points] but I just don’t see them winning a championship with that formula right now.”
James, still under contract with a player option for the 2025-26 season, has remained one of the league’s most efficient players, posting averages of 24.4 points, 8.2 assists, and 7.8 rebounds this past season.
However, the Lakers have not advanced beyond the first round in three of their last four postseason appearances.
The addition of Luka Doncic, widely regarded as one of the league’s most gifted offensive talents, was seen as a major coup for Los Angeles.
But while the James-Doncic duo may elevate the Lakers offensively, Green remains unconvinced that it’s enough for a deep playoff run without defensive reinforcement.
Green, who shared the court with James during championship runs in Cleveland and Los Angeles, noted the immense pressure that comes with playing alongside a figure of LeBron’s stature.
There are times where it’s not as easy because there’s so much pressure, even if you’re wide open, to execute the play because you’re playing with LeBron James,” Green said. “And that’s more so on the outside than it is on the inside because (LeBron) ain’t putting the pressure on you.
“But all the LeBron fans are like, ‘Who’s this bum? Why is he playing with – he can’t make a damn shot.’ You know what I’m saying? So, it’s a gift and a curse, but he made the game easy, man.
“And it was a lot of fun learning from him early on, a lot of fun playing against him, and then even better to play with him, and then it was the bubble, but winning the championship with him. It was great, man, so I couldn’t ask for a better scenario.
Despite the boost in star power, first-year head coach J.J. Redick has his work cut out if he hopes to restore the team’s defensive identity. The Lakers are currently listed at +1700 to win the 2025-26 NBA title, according to DraftKings, putting them in the lower half of the league’s contenders.
Whether LeBron and Luka can find the right balance – or whether the Lakers need more than star power to contend – remains one of the league’s biggest questions heading into next season.
