Luka Doncic bold predictions after bombshell Lakers-Mavericks trade
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With Luka Doncic on track to make his Los Angeles Lakers debut this coming week before the All-Star break, a lot of eyes will be on how well he meshes on the court with LeBron James. Ahead of Luka Doncic's Lakers debut, we'll be making our bold predictions for the rest of the 2024-25 season.
The Lakers shocked the NBA world when they made the trade for Doncic with the Dallas Mavericks. What was even more shocking was the fact that apparently the Mavericks and general manager Nico Harrison reached out first regarding a possible trade.
Doncic is a generational superstar and is not easily replaced. In the immediate aftermath of the trade, Mavericks fans made their feelings known in a protest outside the arena. Lakers fans, on the other hand, are eager to see Doncic play alongside James, two of the best players of their respective generations.
While Doncic and the Lakers were initially targeting Saturday against the Indiana Pacers for his debut, head coach JJ Redick revealed that Monday against the Utah Jazz is more likely. Nevertheless, let's move on to our Luka Doncic bold predictions for the beginning of his Lakers tenure.
Luka Doncic will be the Lakers' best player
Prior to the trade, some around the Lakers were calling Anthony Davis the team's best player. Back at the beginning of the season, James called Davis the team's focal point on both the offensive and defensive ends. Everything seemed set in place for Davis to take over as the franchise focal point when James inevitably retired.
But throughout the season, James continued to lead the Lakers, making NBA history along the way and re-establishing himself as the team's top player.
With Doncic being traded to James' team, it stands to reason that he'll ease his way in and defer to the already established leader. But at this point in their careers, as spectacular as James has played this season, Doncic, albeit younger, is the better player.
It may take a few games, but by the time the playoffs roll around, Doncic will have officially taken the mantel as the Lakers' best player. With a similar overall game, James will have no issue deferring to Doncic. It will help ease the pressure by having another capable ball-handler and playmaker. Not to mention a consistent scoring threat.
So for our first bold prediction, Luka Doncic will take the mantle as Lakers' best player by the time the postseason gets here.
Luka Doncic will surpass LeBron in season triple-doubles
As the oldest player in the NBA at 40 years old, LeBron James is second in the league in triple doubles this season with ten. Nikola Jokic is leading the league with 24. But now James has a triple double threat playing alongside him.
Doncic is much further down the list in triple double this season with only three. But playing with the Lakers, and alongside the best scoring threat he's ever played with in James, look for him to be rejuvenated and on a mission to prove the reports coming out of Dallas wrong.
For his career, Doncic averages 28.6 points, 8.7 rebounds and 8.3 assists. This season he's averaging 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.8 assists. He needs only seven more triple doubles to tie James this season, eight to pass him. With 32 games left in the regular season, our next bold prediction is Luka Doncic passes James and ends up second in the league in triple doubles.
Luka Doncic will lead Lakers to 1st-round playoff upset
Even with the disappointment of the Mark Williams trade being rescinded, the Lakers are not that bad of a team. Sure a healthy Williams would have really raised the ceiling of this roster, but it's no use focusing on that anymore. What matters is the Lakers are getting a healthy and motivated Doncic.
With their recent surge, the Lakers have moved into a top-four seed in the Western Conference standings. They should finish in the 4-6 range and make the playoffs outright without having to go through the play-in. The past two seasons under Ham, the Lakers have had to go through the play-in to make the postseason.
Last year, Doncic lead a 5th seeded Mavericks team to the NBA Finals. They upset the No. 4 seeded Los Angeles Clippers in the first round. He's fully capable of making that happen yet again, especially if the Lakers grab No. 5 and the young, inexperienced Rockets grab No. 4.
Even if the Lakers finish with the No. 6 seed, Doncic is still capable of leading them to first round upset. So for our final bold prediction, Luka Doncic will win at least one playoff series for the Lakers, and it will be as a lower seed without homecourt advantage.
The post Luka Doncic bold predictions after bombshell Lakers-Mavericks trade appeared first on ClutchPoints.
