LeBron says he's fitting his game around Luka, as it should be - ESPN

NEW ORLEANS — As much as LeBron James' recent scoring surge — including 30 points in the Lakers' 111-103 win over the Pelicans — has proven once again that his career defies convention for an aging star, James reiterated the pecking order for L.A. on Tuesday night.

"Luka [Doncic] don't need to bend his game [for me]," James said. «Luka is our (26-year-old) franchise for this ball club. He don't need to bend this game. It's up to us to bend our game around him and figure it out.

»We just try to be dynamic and work off of him. We know he is an unbelievable pick-and-roll player, unbelievable shot-maker. He commands the defense. He has four eyes, sometimes six eyes on him. So, it's up to us to put ourselves in the right position.… It's not a problem for me; it's not an issue for me."

As of late, it's only been an issue for opposing defenses. Doncic also scored 30 points against the Pelicans, marking the second time in the Lakers' past three games that the pair topped the 30-point mark together.

L.A. has won three games in a row while missing two starters in Austin Reaves (left calf) and Rui Hachimura (right calf), with James and Doncic leading the way.

«He's been absolutely amazing,» Doncic said of James. «Just helping me out, helping others out, being super efficient on the field goals.… That's Bron. He can do anything. Just really appreciate him.… We are playing better with each other, game by game. And this is just going to be improving more.»

After averaging only 14 points on 41.3% shooting (25.9% from 3) in his first six games after he was sidelined for the first month of the season with sciatica, the 41-year-old James is rounding back into form.

Tuesday was the seventh time in L.A.'s past 12 games that James has scored