With the Los Angeles Lakers dealing with a growing list of injuries, the responsibility has fallen squarely on the shoulders of LeBron James and Luka Dončić to keep the team afloat. While the superstar duo is more than capable of carrying the load, Los Angeles has struggled to find consistency in recent weeks.
The Lakers closed out 2025 in disappointing fashion, suffering a lopsided loss to the Detroit Pistons. Hoping to turn the page in the new year, they opened 2026 against a gritty Memphis Grizzlies squad led by a healthy Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. Though far from flawless, Los Angeles managed to grind out a 128–121 victory behind dominant performances from its two stars, both eclipsing the 30-point mark.
One of the night’s highlights came when Dončić delivered a pinpoint, full-court pass to James for an easy layup, igniting the crowd and showcasing the growing chemistry between the two. Speaking afterward, James praised Dončić’s vision and touched on how their connection in transition is beginning to develop:
“One of the best quarterbacks and I’m a pretty good receiver, when it comes to that. It’s my job to not allow the defense to break that up or steal the ball. And he put it right on target and made it a lot easier for me. Yeah, for sure — I watched Randy Moss a lot growing up and he did that a lot. When I played football, I took that tip from him and kind of brought it to basketball when I get that seal.”
James has long been known for leaking out in transition, trusting his teammates to find him for easy scores. He previously benefited from elite outlet passing during his Cleveland days with Kevin Love, and now appears to be forming a similar dynamic with Dončić — a promising sign as he navigates his 23rd NBA season.
With two elite playmakers capable of creating offense for themselves and others, the Lakers have little excuse not to capitalize on that synergy. Given the team’s current injury situation, James and Dončić don’t just lead by choice — they lead by necessity, tasked with carrying Los Angeles until reinforcements return.
After the win, head coach JJ Redick was quick to praise his veteran star. Having skipped preseason action and much of training camp, James needed time to regain his rhythm, but he appears to be rounding into form. Against Memphis, he finished with 31 points, nine rebounds, and six assists, prompting Redick to describe his performance as nothing short of “phenomenal.”
