LeBron Reveals Thoughts on Lakers Small-Ball Lineup
LeBron James recently discussed the Lakers’ small-ball lineup on his podcast, Mind The Game. He shared, “You have Luka at 6’7, myself at 6’9, Doe at 6’8, Rui at 6’9, Austin at 6’5. There’s no center out there, but we’re athletic, long, and tough.”
Before diving into the small-ball lineup itself, it’s worth noting Jaxson Hayes’s significant contributions. While Hayes is not the centerpiece of this small-ball unit, his athleticism and presence in the paint have been a welcome surprise.
His ability to force defenses to collapse in the paint creates open lanes for shooters like Gabe Vincent and Dorian Finney-Smith, adding a vertical element to the offense that helps spread the floor.
Hayes has stepped up to play a much larger role than anticipated, and his energy continues to help elevate the team.
“With our position-less lineup:
You have Luka at 6’7, myself at 6’9, Doe at 6’8, Rui at 6’9, Austin at 6’5.
There’s no center out there, but we’re athletic long and tough.”
LeBron James talks about the Lakers “de@th lineup”
(@mindthegamepod) pic.twitter.com/wGmwPlOnOs— 🎗NBA•Fan🎗 (@Klutch_23) April 1, 2025
Lakers’ Death Lineup: A New Approach
When it comes to the Lakers’ death lineup, the focus shifts to their incredible versatility and size. LeBron’s comment about the “position-less” approach highlights a critical aspect of this lineup: its ability to adapt to different situations and leverage the athleticism of its players to cause mismatches.
Unlike traditional small-ball units, the Lakers can still dictate pace and size while maintaining fluidity in their offense and defense. This flexibility makes them dangerous against any opponent.
How the Lakers’ Approach Differs from Traditional Small-Ball Models
The 2015-16 Warriors popularized small-ball with a motion-heavy offense. Players like Stephen Curry ran through screens, and Draymond Green acted as the central playmaker.
The Lakers’ offense is a bit different—they don’t rely on that same constant motion. Instead, they emphasize passing, size, and strategic spacing to create opportunities.
What really makes the Lakers’ small-ball lineup unique is their ability to create off screens. Players like LeBron James can either facilitate or finish. For example, Luka’s ability to facilitate and then dump off to LeBron adds another layer of creativity to the offense.
LeBron’s elite scoring efficiency and finishing ability make this pairing even scarier. He doesn’t always need to be the one looking for the pass or dump-off; he can finish at a high level on his own. This gives the Lakers more options and makes them unpredictable.
A Glimpse of Lakers’ Potential in Early Trades
Since acquiring Luka Dončić, the Lakers have proven their potential. In the first two weeks with him, they went 4-0, ranking 3rd in offense, 4th in defense, and 3rd in net rating. They also sit 6th in versatility rating with a score of 72.6, showing just how adaptable this team has become.
Luka’s defensive impact has been significant as well, with the Lakers holding opponents to just 97 points per 100 possessions in the Luka-LeBron-Austin-Reaves-Rui lineup—an elite mark, nearly 10 points better than the previous LeBron-Reaves-Christie-Rui-AD unit.
Luka’s Increased Defensive Confidence
Since joining the Lakers, Luka has played with more confidence on defense. With Dorian Finney-Smith, Vando, and LeBron providing solid defense, Luka has been able to press offensive playmakers more.
His defensive effort has been complemented by teammates who can switch on drives and hedge over screens, which allows Luka to be more aggressive. This extra defensive support complements Luka’s offensive brilliance.
Recent Regression and Looking Forward
As of late, the Lakers have experienced some regression in their defense and overall performance. This can be attributed to a few factors: inconsistent lineups due to health, miscommunication, and tough back-to-back matchups.
However, these struggles are part of the process, and the Lakers remain confident that with time, they can refocus and return to the elite level they showed early after the trade. Their potential is high, and once they hit their stride, this small-ball lineup could be a real force to reckon with in the playoffs.
