NBA analyst Kenny “The Jet” Smith has voiced a pointed concern about the Los Angeles Lakers’ impending rotation, questioning how LeBron James will blend his game with the team’s current stars, Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, once he returns from injury.
Speaking on the dynamic created in James’ absence, Smith suggested that the Lakers now face an uncomfortable conundrum: having three highly ball-dominant players whose primary value lies in creating plays, not simply finishing them.
“What is gonna be the most interesting part is when LeBron comes back,” Smith said. “Because the two guys who’ve had the most success while he’s out [Dončić and Reaves], they’re very ball dominant. So they need the basketball to make plays.”
The Lakers have enjoyed a strong start to the season without James, driven by stellar play from Dončić and an explosive offensive stretch from Reaves, who has averaged over 34 points and 10 assists per game in a small sample. This period of success has led to speculation that the team has found an unexpected identity and structure in the absence of its longtime superstar.
Kenny Smith says Lebron will hold Luka and Austin Reaves back when he comes back 🔥 pic.twitter.com/GHGLfrGEhD
— TheTruth (@Thetruth8240) November 6, 2025
Smith argued that having three such primary creators is unsustainable for a championship contender.
“You can’t have three [ball-dominant players],” Smith continued. “It’s impossible to have that, because there’s not enough ball movement and body movement to win. So, it’s going to be interesting to see what LeBron does and how he slides in.”
The comments set up a major narrative for the Lakers as they await the return of the 40-year-old James. The question now looms: Will James, who has been his team’s focal point throughout his career, be willing to take a “backseat,” as some analysts like Kendrick Perkins have suggested, to facilitate a successful co-existence with the younger Dončić and the ascendant Reaves?
The return will force either a dramatic shift in James’ role or a necessary re-evaluation of the team’s offense, which has thrived on Dončić and Reaves being the clear lead decision-makers.
