Luka Doncic has been with the Los Angeles Lakers for nearly a month, and the thought of him playing alongside LeBron James still hasn't gotten old.
Having said that, it's no secret that Doncic's tenure hasn't gone as smoothly as some fans hoped. The Slovenian superstar's shooting performance has left much to be desired, to say the least, as he's only averaging 19.3 points while shooting 36.5% from the floor and 22.4% from deep in five appearances since the blockbuster trade with the Dallas Mavericks.
Although Doncic's lackluster offensive performance is concerning to some, one person who isn't worried is none other than "The King" himself.
Lakers News: LeBron James Comments on Luka Doncic's Struggles
Following Thursday's 111-102 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, James spoke to the media about various topics — including Doncic's post-trade woes. Always a leader, the 40-year-old superstar made it clear that his newest teammate's struggles won't last forever.
"We're not worried about that," James said about Doncic's performance, per The Athletic's Jovan Buha. "To be able to still maintain our game and him to still be able to make an impact, with him not shooting well right now, that's what makes him special."
Lakers fans thought Doncic was turning a page when he scored 32 points on .455/.444/1.000 splits during Saturday's 123-100 victory against the Denver Nuggets. Much to the fanbase's dismay, the 26-year-old phenom reverted back to his struggling ways Thursday night, scoring only 19 points with 35.3 FG% and 14.3 3P%.
The silver lining is that the Lakers know Doncic is better than he's shown. The fact that they're 5-2 since he made his debut, despite his shooting struggles, paints a bright outlook for JJ Redick's team — especially once Doncic gets the ball rolling.
"We trust Luka as a shooter and as a decision-maker and the type of shots he's been able to create throughout his career," Redick said following the Lakers' latest win. "He'll find his rhythm. We're confident he will."
With the end of the regular season nearing, the Lakers need Doncic to step up and help build momentum. Los Angeles currently trails the Memphis Grizzlies by 1.5 games for second place in the Western Conference, and getting the five-time NBA All-Star back on track would help close the gap.
In the meantime, despite Doncic's struggles, the Lakers hold the fifth-best 2025 NBA Finals odds (+1800) on FanDuel Sportsbook.
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