The unexpected trade that sent superstar Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis and a first round pick sent shockwaves throughout the NBA on Saturday night. Players and fans alike were confused, considering most felt like Doncic was an “untouchable” player. It is not only unquestionably one of the most shocking trades the NBA has ever seen, but maybe the world of sports.
BREAKING: The Dallas Mavericks are trading Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick, sources tell ESPN. Three-team deal that includes Utah.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 2, 2025
In his age 40 season, after hanging a triple-double in another dominant performance at The Garden against the third seed New York Knicks, LeBron found himself once again with a new running mate; and potentially his best one yet.
I want to clarify one thing first: this is not a comparison on which of these players had the best career in totality (considering multiple are still playing), or which players had the best years *while playing* with LeBron. This is a comparison on what each player accomplished prior to teaming up with LeBron James.
Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
Wade was a part of that dynamic 2003 draft class that was headed by LeBron, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, and himself, and is considered one of the greatest draft classes of all-time. When the Heatles, The Big 3, joined forces in 2010 after The Decision, it turned the world of basketball upside down and changed the landscape of the NBA.
Prior to LeBron coming to South Beach, these were Wade’s counting stats:
What gives Wade the biggest leg up in this conversation is that he was already an NBA Champion when he became teammates with LeBron in 2010. Wade and the Heat won the 2006 Finals against the Dallas Mavericks 4-2, in which he threw the team on his back while STILL ON HIS ROOKIE DEAL. It is, simply put, one of the greatest individual efforts and Finals performances of all-time.Â
His stat line per game:
Additionally, Wade’s accolades included:
- 5x All-Star
- 4x All-NBA (1x First, 2x Second, 1x Third)
- 08-09 Scoring Title
- 2x All-Defensive
Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers
Kyrie Irving to the Cavs was a direct result of LeBron walking away in 2010 for South Beach, and it was probably the best thing to ever happen to the organization. This duo finally brought a championship to Cleveland in the 2015-16 season after a miraculous 3-1 comeback series victory against the mighty Golden State Warriors.
However, the sample size for Kyrie pre-LeBron is very small (only three seasons). Make no mistake, Kyrie was, and still is, extremely talented; but his career went on a significant upswing when LeBron showed up.
Kyrie’s counting stats 2011-14:
Kyrie was a phenom coming out of Duke, being the number one pick despite only playing a handful of collegiate games. That trend continued in the NBA, only playing 51 games his rookie season, but he walked away with the Rookie of the Year award and was an instant highlight reel. Must watch TV.
- 2011-12 Rookie of the Year
- 2x All-Star
- 2013-14 All-Star MVP
Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers
LeBron and AD won a championship their very first season together as teammates. Despite what some would say about the Bubble and COVID-19 affecting the season, the Lakers were dominant all year and were one of the favorites to win the Finals. Although there were certainly ups and downs, Davis was a great teammate for LeBron has he started to age and was one of the best big men in basketball every season.
While in New Orleans, Davis was an absolute powerhouse:
Davis was a number one overall pick that instantly became a force in the NBA. He is unequivocally the best big man LeBron has ever played with.
- 6x All-Star
- 3x All-NBA First Team
- 3x All-Defensive (1x First, 2x Second)
- 2016-17 All-Star MVP
Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers
Luka is the newest member to this list, and perhaps the most unique for this reason: he is the only one who is objectively better than LeBron James at the point of becoming teammates. Anthony Davis was terrific, but his health issues were always something that followed him, and occasionally made him unreliable.
Luka is, by all accounts, better than LeBron at this point in their careers. We may also see LeBron finally, truly, hand the reigns to someone else and assume a different role than he has the entirety of his career. It will be fascinating to watch.
In terms of personal accolades and achievements, there’s no one on this list that surpasses Luka. His Finals appearance last year proved he could win a title as the lead man, despite the criticisms of his game. Now with a proven winner in LeBron, he might get there.
Luka’s counting stats with the Mavs:
- 5x All-Star
- 5x First Team All-NBA
- 2018-19 Rookie of the Year
- 2023-24 Scoring Champion
- 1x Finals Appearance
The Doncic-to-Lakers trade was unprecedented, and now when LeBron actually retires, the Lakers will have a 20-something superstar to build around. Could The King help bring another title to a teammate, and vice versa?
To officially answer our question of “Who is LeBron’s Best Teammate?” If we are talking strictly talent, it’s Luka. But I have often said it was always Dwyane Wade. Wade’s team success before LeBron was something that I thought of as the singular defining factor of the argument. He carried a team to a title on his rookie deal. It was, and still is, unheard of.
But with Luka’s stats, accolades, and that elusive Finals appearance he finally got, I think there is an easy argument to be made that it’s him. Now it’s time to sit back, relax, and watch the rest of the story unfold.
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