If there were any doubts about how LeBron James would fit once he returned from injury, after three games, there's absolutely no question — the Los Angeles Lakers are one of the best teams in the league with him in the lineup.
In last night's win over their city rival, the Los Angeles Clippers , the Lakers rolled 135–118, with King James delivering 25 points, six rebounds and six assists on 9-of-15 shooting. Luka Doncic was the star of the night with 43 points, nine rebounds and 13 assists, while Austin Reaves added 31 points and nine rebounds.
The Lakers were without Deandre Ayton due to injury, yet it didn't show on the court, hinting at just how dangerous JJ Redick's squad could look as the season continues. After the game, many NBA fans and analysts were impressed by the Purple & Gold team, including Skip Bayless .
"I am watching the greatest 3-man backcourt in NBA history, combined highest hoop IQ and passing genius. LeBron James . Luka Doncic . Austin Reaves . Honor and pleasure to behold this triple gift from the basketball gods," the former ESPN analyst wrote on his X account.
We already knew this was one of the most potent backcourts in the league before the season even began, but last night they displayed a level of dominance that was genuinely stunning. However, though it must be said the Clippers have been struggling badly this season and are currently 12th in the West.
While overall they're outside the Top 10 in both offensive and defensive rating, if we look only at the last three games since James returned, the Lakers are scoring 125.2 points per 100 possessions, the second-best mark in the league during that span, beating opponents by a +10.0 net rating per 100 possessions, according to NBA.com .
The defense is still outside the Top 10, and they did have a favorable schedule, facing teams outside the playoff picture, including two games against the Utah Jazz . They also played only three games in one week, which means these numbers could be misleading.
However, what stands out is the style of play the Lakers have adopted since King James' return. Overall, this season, they rank 17th in pace at 100.8, but in the last three games, they are eighth with a 101.6 pace. LeBron is scoring 7.7 points per game in transition, which would rank him first in that category, ahead of Giannis Antetokounmpo .
It's clear Redick has thought deeply about how to maximize three dominant pick-and-roll players once they share the floor. Despite his age, he has placed James in a transition-heavy role, something that defined much of his career, while Reaves serves as a constant 3-point threat defenses can't leave open, even though they must help on Doncic, who attacks mismatches relentlessly, pulling the entire defensive focus toward him.
To perfect such a system, you need three high-IQ players who fully understand the team's needs and a structure that doesn't allow all three to function as the same type of player. So it's no surprise that in his record 23rd season, LeBron isn't forcing anything, especially in the regular season, and has embraced this new role.
LBJ is currently averaging 17.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 8.7 assists on 53 percent shooting, and it's clear this reduced-usage and off-ball role suits him extremely well. It's hard to judge after only three games, but the fact is that the Lakers sit tied for second place with the Denver Nuggets at 13-4 despite all the injuries their star trio has dealt with this season, a clear message to the rest of the league that they are absolutely ready for big things this year.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Nov 26, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
