The idea of LeBron James as the third scoring option might sound strange at first. After all, we’re talking about one of the greatest players the game has ever seen. But the Lakers’ evolving offensive structure isn’t about LeBron suddenly declining or losing the ability to score. Everyone in the league knows he can still take over a game if needed.
Instead, the shift is about maximizing each player’s impact. The Lakers now have multiple creators who thrive with the ball, which allows the offense to distribute responsibility differently. LeBron taking a step back in the offense may be the key for the Lakers’ success.
LeBron’s Unique Off-Ball Impact
What makes this structure possible is LeBron’s versatility. Unlike many superstars, he’s one of the few players capable of making a major impact even when he isn’t controlling the offense.
LeBron’s influence shows up in areas that don’t always get the same attention as scoring. He can defend multiple positions, control the glass, make smart cuts into open space, and create scoring chances simply through his awareness of how defenses are rotating. His basketball IQ allows him to read plays before they fully develop.
Few players in NBA history have had the size, feel, and experience to affect the game in so many different ways. In that sense, LeBron operating as the third scoring option isn’t a step back — it’s a strategic adjustment that leverages everything else he still does at an elite level.
Luka Leading the Way
Luka Doncic is a big reason why the Lakers’ offense works like this. He’s one of the league’s top offensive players and can control a game by scoring and making plays for others.
But his influence is tied closely to having the ball. Luka thrives when he’s orchestrating pick-and-roll actions, manipulating defensive coverage, and dictating the pace of possessions. Without the ball, his ability to shape the offense naturally decreases compared to players who specialize in cutting or off-ball movement.
That’s why the offensive roles make sense. Luka needs the ball most to be effective, so the offense is built around him starting plays.
Austin Reaves
The rise of Austin Reaves has also reshaped how the Lakers can structure their offense. There’s a perception that Reaves now needs the ball constantly to be effective, but that overlooks how his career began.
Early on, Reaves played plenty of minutes off the ball alongside Russell Westbrook and later D’Angelo Russell. He thrived by cutting into open lanes, relocating along the perimeter, and attacking closeouts as defenses shifted.
More recently, Reaves has simply been given more opportunities to create offense himself. And the results have backed up that decision. So far this season, he has actually been a more efficient scorer than LeBron, which supports the idea of letting him shoulder more of the scoring responsibility.
Energy Saved for the Moments That Matter
There’s also a long-term advantage to this structure. At 41 years old, LeBron no longer needs to carry the nightly scoring burden he handled for most of his career.
For years, he was looking for someone else to carry the majority of the offensive load. With Luka driving the offense and Reaves providing aggressive scoring, that opportunity now exists.
Instead of forcing the offense every possession, LeBron can control tempo, make winning plays across the floor, and still elevate his scoring when the game demands it.
Bottom Line
The Lakers’ new offensive setup isn’t about taking anything away from LeBron. It’s about getting the most out of the whole team. Luka Doncic is great as the main playmaker, Austin Reaves has shown he can score more, and LeBron is still the most versatile player out there.
By taking on a role where he doesn’t have to do all the scoring, LeBron can save energy, help the team’s defense and rebounding, and still take over when it matters most.
For a team trying to win a championship, that kind of balance could be just what the Lakers need.
