The LeBron James All-NBA (2nd) and Luka Doncic - 24-25 Thread

[jalengreen]

How does a move to Cleveland work? I believe they're a 2nd apron team.

Were I the Lakers I'd be happy to move on, LeBrons not a title winning #2 with Luka at this point and he's paid like a #1 if he opts in. No need to burn a season of prime Luka.

What alternative scenario are you imagining where moving on from LeBron makes it so a season of prime Luka isn't wasted?

[tsherkin]

Nobody gives a **** about LeBron right now, man.

You realize this is the "The LeBron James and Luka Doncic" thread, right?

I'm well aware. Do you realize the playoffs are on, and not everything evolves around your idol?

This is literally a thread ABOUT Lebron (and Luka). It very much revolves around him.

[AEnigma]

Nobody gives a **** about LeBron right now, man.

You realize this is the "The LeBron James and Luka Doncic" thread, right?

I'm well aware. Do you realize the playoffs are on, and not everything evolves around your idol?

Are you doing a bit? “Nobody cares, the playoffs are on” could be said for any thread on the front page which does not directly pertain to the teams still remaining in the postseason.

[eminence]

How does a move to Cleveland work? I believe they're a 2nd apron team.

Were I the Lakers I'd be happy to move on, LeBrons not a title winning #2 with Luka at this point and he's paid like a #1 if he opts in. No need to burn a season of prime Luka.

What alternative scenario are you imagining where moving on from LeBron makes it so a season of prime Luka isn't wasted?

Poorly worded.

Next season the Lakers are unlikely to be contenders regardless what they do. If LeBron moves this offseason I think that lets them set up better for '26-'27.

Money to grab a few role players this year, consider getting a real coach, don't have as much pressure to push for PO success in '26 in particular.

Basically start building around Luka.

[MickeyDavis]

Nobody gives a **** about LeBron right now, man.

You realize this is the "The LeBron James and Luka Doncic" thread, right?

I'm well aware. Do you realize the playoffs are on, and not everything evolves around your idol?

Everyone is aware the playoffs are going on. And there are tons of playoff related threads. And there is plenty to discuss outside of the playoffs. No one forced you to read this thread. Coming into a Lebron and Luka thread to complain about people talking about Lebron and Luka is

[trex_8063]

Nobody gives a **** about LeBron right now, man.

You realize this is the "The LeBron James and Luka Doncic" thread, right?

I'm well aware. Do you realize the playoffs are on, and not everything evolves around your idol?

You appear to be criticizing and/or baiting posters for talking about LeBron in the literal LeBron James Thread.

If you're tired/bored of discussing LeBron James, then don't visit this thread. But 'shushing' people for discussion a player in the thread that bears his name in the title is to say the least bizarre. And it's irritating others, so please don't do it.

[thebigbird]

How does a move to Cleveland work? I believe they're a 2nd apron team.

Were I the Lakers I'd be happy to move on, LeBrons not a title winning #2 with Luka at this point and he's paid like a #1 if he opts in. No need to burn a season of prime Luka.

What alternative scenario are you imagining where moving on from LeBron makes it so a season of prime Luka isn't wasted?

Yeah, I mean next year will likely be a “wasted” year but that’s because Rob Pelinka is a terrible GM incapable of making good moves unless they fall into his lap. We’re talking about a GM who failed to find a center to play ne t to AD for years and who went into this playoffs with Hayes as the only center. He’s not going to magically become a capable GM now. Luka will also “waste” a year of his prime next year unless he gets serious about his fitness. Lebron leaving won’t change any of that and won’t really add much in terms of cap space either.

[Ian Scuffling]

Nobody gives a **** about LeBron right now, man.

You realize this is the "The LeBron James and Luka Doncic" thread, right?

I'm well aware. Do you realize the playoffs are on, and not everything evolves around your idol?

One of the goofiest things I've ever read. Guess he thinks we should be talking about Shai? I'm sure there's a Shai thread, though.

[KembaWalker]

You realize this is the "The LeBron James and Luka Doncic" thread, right?

I'm well aware. Do you realize the playoffs are on, and not everything evolves around your idol?

You appear to be criticizing and/or baiting posters for talking about LeBron in the literal LeBron James Thread.

If you're tired/bored of discussing LeBron James, then don't visit this thread. But 'shushing' people for discussion a player in the thread that bears his name in the title is to say the least bizarre. And it's irritating others, so please don't do it.

you forget to tell him that no negative posting is allowed either

[PistolPeteJR]

Nobody gives a **** about LeBron right now, man.

You realize this is the "The LeBron James and Luka Doncic" thread, right?

I'm well aware. Do you realize the playoffs are on, and not everything evolves around your idol?

Do you realize there are threads for those topics of conversation?

[NbaAllDay]

I'm well aware. Do you realize the playoffs are on, and not everything evolves around your idol?

You appear to be criticizing and/or baiting posters for talking about LeBron in the literal LeBron James Thread.

If you're tired/bored of discussing LeBron James, then don't visit this thread. But 'shushing' people for discussion a player in the thread that bears his name in the title is to say the least bizarre. And it's irritating others, so please don't do it.

you forget to tell him that no negative posting is allowed either

Considering posting with negative intent generally means you are looking to cause a reaction versus have any meaningful addition to a conversation, being negative clearly adds 0 value to a forum discussing basketball.

I'm sure you are already know this, given you made this post to provoke a reaction versus add anything meaningful

[Heej]

I think there's a 30-40% chance he will be in Cleveland next year. I've been skeptical about him ever leaving LA, but it seems like there's a shift in his mindset. No one from LA "insiders" think that he's 100% guaranteed to be back

Well yeah he probably saw up close and personal how much of a fat loser Luka is. No hardcore basketball fan can ever take that tub of lard seriously after seeing the sheer volume of points he gave up in the Timberwolves series complaining to the refs while the wolves ran it in transition. There's something mentally not all there with this kid and his maturity level.

This feels a bit drastic. The circumstances surrounding this season pretty much guaranteed Luka being far less than he had been previously. Injury riddled. World altering mid-season trade. Leaving a team that was calibrated to enhance his strengths and hid his weaknesses. Going to a team that couldn't do either. It was a lot.

It's not lost on me that Luka's the same age Lebron was his 1stnyear in Miami. While obviously not a 1 for 1 comparison; they're a few strong parallels.

literally none of that is an excuse for giving up copious amounts of buckets in a single series purely from forcing your team to defend 4 on 5 complaining to the refs. None of that excuses his absolute apathy for defense and embarrassing efforts defending closeouts. Luka is a deeply unserious and bratty entitled basketball player at times.

[Heej]

Nobody gives a **** about LeBron right now, man.

You realize this is the "The LeBron James and Luka Doncic" thread, right?

I'm well aware. Do you realize the playoffs are on, and not everything evolves around your idol?

Nobody cares about your priorities nerd

[Ian Scuffling]

You appear to be criticizing and/or baiting posters for talking about LeBron in the literal LeBron James Thread.

If you're tired/bored of discussing LeBron James, then don't visit this thread. But 'shushing' people for discussion a player in the thread that bears his name in the title is to say the least bizarre. And it's irritating others, so please don't do it.

you forget to tell him that no negative posting is allowed either

Considering posting with negative intent generally means you are looking to cause a reaction versus have any meaningful addition to a conversation, being negative clearly adds 0 value to a forum discussing basketball.

I'm sure you are already know this, given you made this post to provoke a reaction versus add anything meaningful

And coming from the troll, that's rich. Saying negative things about Lebron is fine, when you have a point. He's certainly not a perfect basketball player. There won't ever be one. These guys just make **** up or complain about something having nothing to do with basketball. I'll never understand "hating" on a guy that has no power over me and doesn't know I exist. Very strange behavior.

[ball_takes23]

I thought LeBron made it to eight consecutive finals because the “east was weak.“ how many consecutive finals will the Boston Celtics, the best team in the east, make?

how many times has Lebron made it to the finals in the West? in fact how many times has he made it past the first round in the West?

Spoiler:

in b4 but he forteeee

[OhayoKD]

I thought LeBron made it to eight consecutive finals because the “east was weak.“ how many consecutive finals will the Boston Celtics, the best team in the east, make?

how many times has Lebron made it to the finals in the West? in fact how many times has he made it past the first round in the West?

Spoiler:

in b4 but he forteeee

How many playoffs did 40 year old Jordan make in the east?

Lebron had 3 "prime" years in the west (assuming his prime constitutes a 12-13 year stretch unlike inferior players like Steph, Jordan, Shaq, and Kobe who weren't good enough to put together comparably long "primes")

2019 -> 4th seed/50 wins and suffers his first major injury. Team collapses iwhtout him.
2020 -> 1st seed, 2nd in the league, wins the title without home-court
2021 -> 1st seed in the the league until he suffers his second major injury and the team collapse without him again

Seems like the Western conference has been lucky Lebron is old and had more milage than nearly anyone in league history, your Warriors included.

[Ian Scuffling]

I thought LeBron made it to eight consecutive finals because the “east was weak.“ how many consecutive finals will the Boston Celtics, the best team in the east, make?

how many times has Lebron made it to the finals in the West? in fact how many times has he made it past the first round in the West?

Spoiler:

in b4 but he forteeee

Look, not sure if this person is a troll or not, but another one who just doesn't understand context. Never sure if it's stupidity or willful ignorance. But, how about Curry not making it out of the second round

[Ian Scuffling]

I thought LeBron made it to eight consecutive finals because the “east was weak.“ how many consecutive finals will the Boston Celtics, the best team in the east, make?

how many times has Lebron made it to the finals in the West? in fact how many times has he made it past the first round in the West?

Spoiler:

in b4 but he forteeee

How many playoffs did 40 year old Jordan make in the east?

Lebron had 3 "prime" years in the west (assuming his prime constitutes a 12-13 year stretch unlike inferior players like Steph, Jordan, Shaq, and Kobe who weren't good enough to put together comparably long "primes")

2019 -> 4th seed/50 wins and suffers his first major injury. Team collapses iwhtout him.
2020 -> 1st seed, 2nd in the league, wins the title without home-court
2021 -> 1st seed in the the league until he suffers his second major injury and the team collapse without him again

Seems like the Western conference has been lucky Lebron is old and had more milage than nearly anyone in league history, your Warriors included.

And now the context is delivered. Not sure if they'll read it or not.

[TroubleS0me]

Read on Twitter

[Ainosterhaspie]

I'd be nervous about LeBron returning to Cleveland if I were a Cavaliers fan. It would only work if he was willing to take a massive pay cut so they don't have to gut their depth and if he was willing to play a significantly reduced role. No more resting on the court. Play hard for the minutes you can then take a breather until you can do it again. If that mean you're only on for 2 or 3 minutes game time then of 8, so be it.

Cleveland will go nowhere if they dump depth and have James playing 35 minutes while only going hard for 5. But if he is willing to accept less money and playing time, he could be the difference between a title and second round exit.