Luka & LeBron: A Superteam Built to Fail
By: Damien Thaddeus Jones - @NobleNegroe + Facebook
“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” – Socrates
The idea of pairing LeBron James and Luka Dončić on the same team is enticing on paper. Both are generational talents capable of dominating a game with their scoring, passing, and leadership. However, when analyzing their playing styles and weaknesses, the fit becomes much less ideal. A LeBron-Luka duo is likely to struggle for three key reasons: both players are subpar defenders, both are highly ball-dominant, and Luka has a history of conditioning issues. These factors, when combined, create a formula that is unlikely to produce a championship-caliber team.
One of the biggest concerns with a LeBron-Luka pairing is their defensive shortcomings. While both players are known for their offensive brilliance, neither is an elite defender at this stage of their careers. Luka Dončić has consistently ranked as a below-average defender, particularly in key advanced metrics. In the 2022-23 season, he posted a 113.4 defensive rating, which ranked among the worst for starting guards in the NBA. His struggles with lateral quickness and effort on defense have often made him a target for opposing offenses.
LeBron, once a dominant two-way force, has also regressed defensively due to age and the necessity of conserving energy for offensive responsibilities. While he occasionally showcases flashes of his past defensive prowess, his defensive rating of 112.1 in the 2022-23 season suggests that he is no longer capable of consistently anchoring a defense. The Lakers’ defensive success has often depended on having elite defenders like Anthony Davis to mask LeBron’s declining effort on that end of the floor. Pairing him with Luka, another defensive liability, would put immense pressure on the supporting cast to compensate for their weaknesses.
Beyond their defensive struggles, Luka and LeBron both need the ball in their hands to be effective. Luka ranked first in the NBA in usage rate (37.5%) in the 2022-23 season, meaning nearly 40% of the Mavericks’ possessions ended with him shooting, passing, or turning the ball over when he was on the floor. Meanwhile, LeBron, even in his 20th season, maintained a 31.9% usage rate, which placed him among the league’s highest.
Historically, LeBron has thrived when paired with complementary stars who can function without dominating the ball—players like Dwyane Wade, Kyrie Irving, and Anthony Davis, who could operate off the ball or play strong secondary roles. Luka, however, has never been an effective off-ball player. He is not a strong catch-and-shoot threat, with a career three-point percentage of just 33.8%, meaning he does not stretch the floor effectively when playing alongside another ball handler.
The Dallas Mavericks experienced a similar issue when they paired Luka with Kyrie Irving. Despite Irving’s ability to play off the ball, the Mavericks struggled to find consistent offensive rhythm, finishing with a 38-44 record and missing the playoffs in the 2022-23 season. If Luka struggled to share playmaking duties with Irving—one of the most versatile guards in NBA history—how would it work with LeBron, who commands even more ball control?
The final major issue with this duo is Luka Dončić’s ongoing conditioning problems. Throughout his career, Luka has often started seasons out of shape, leading to inconsistent performances and injury risks. In 2021, he admitted to reporters that he “relaxed too much” during the offseason and arrived at training camp weighing around 260 pounds, far above his ideal playing weight.
These conditioning struggles have affected Luka’s durability and stamina, particularly in deep playoff runs. By the second half of the 2022-23 season, Luka’s production dipped, and he dealt with nagging injuries that slowed him down significantly. LeBron, at age 39, already has to manage his workload carefully to remain effective. A duo where both stars require heavy minutes but struggle with conditioning over an 82-game season would make it difficult to maintain consistency, especially in the postseason.
While the idea of LeBron James and Luka Dončić teaming up sounds exciting, the reality is that their weaknesses would likely outweigh their strengths. Their poor defense would leave the team vulnerable, their ball-dominant styles would create offensive friction, and Luka’s conditioning issues would make it difficult to sustain success over a full season. Superteams are built not just on talent but on fit, and this duo simply does not complement each other well enough to work.
As Michael Jordan once said, “Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.” Individually, LeBron and Luka are two of the most talented players in NBA history. Together, however, their fit issues make it unlikely that they would form a true championship contender.
Rev. Damien Thaddeus Jones is a Christian minister, distinguished conservative thought leader, and political analyst with nearly 15 years of expertise in civic and political engagement. He is the author of best selling book Black Voters Red Wave.