Luka Doncic entered the NBA in 2018, calling LeBron James his idol. During their first game against each other, Doncic asked James for his jersey. After the game, he went to the Lakers’ locker room to get it, and James wrote a message on the purple jersey: “Strive for greatness.”
Now, nearly seven years later, both players are ready to strive for greatness together. A recent trade sent Doncic to the Lakers and Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks, creating a new superstar duo. James has teamed up with other big stars like Kyrie Irving, Dwyane Wade, and Davis, and now he gets to play with Doncic.
The question is: will it work? The answer will come in time, but James has already won titles with Irving in Cleveland, Wade in Miami, and Davis with the Lakers in 2020.
For Doncic, the moment he played against James for the first time is still memorable. “It was amazing,” he said. “It was something special for me, for sure. I looked up to him as my idol. It was just great for me. Like I said, it was special, and it will be a day that I remember.”
The Lakers hope this new partnership will create many more memorable days. The trade was finalized after James, at 40 years old, had an outstanding performance against the New York Knicks, scoring 33 points, recording 12 assists, and grabbing 11 rebounds. It was one of his many incredible performances at his age, continuing to show he’s still one of the best in the game.
James, even at 40, is unstoppable when playing at his best. He’s had four games with over 30 points since turning 40, tying Michael Jordan’s record. He averages 25 points per game at 40 and has more triple-doubles at that age than any other player in NBA history.
Now, James gets to play alongside Doncic, who brings a lot of similarities to his game. “I love everything about his game,” James said in 2022. “The way he plays the game reminds me of the way I play the game. We’re just triple threats.
We rebound. We pass, which is the No. 1 thing on our mind, trying to keep our teammates engaged and keeping our teammates feeling good on the floor, keeping our teammates in rhythm. And we will put 40 on you, too, if you disrespect us.”
Doncic, like James, has accomplished things few others have. He recorded one of only two 60-point triple-doubles in NBA history, alongside James Harden. He’s also one of only four players to score 73 points in a game. His scoring average ranks third in history behind Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain.
Now, they’re teammates, ready to chase big wins. James has lasted 22 years in the league because of his commitment to fitness, and the Lakers are hoping some of that discipline will rub off on Doncic. Doncic, despite not always being in peak shape, still delivers impressive performances.
It seems like James was almost predicting this pairing when the All-Star Game had captains choosing teams. James often picked Doncic for his team, calling him “Luka Magic,” and they spent time together on the bench and during warm-ups. Doncic never stopped looking up to James.
“He’s the best,” Doncic said.
On the night Doncic went to get that signed jersey, he never made it inside the Lakers’ locker room. Now, he’s not just outside the door—he’s inside. And there’s a new jersey waiting for him. It has a different name and number on the back, but the message will stay the same. The Lakers brought Doncic in to strive for greatness.
