As Luka Dončić settles into his role as the new face of the Los Angeles Lakers, the superstar guard is working on a subtle but important adjustment that could determine how smoothly he meshes with LeBron James and Austin Reaves.
According to Anthony Irwin of ClutchPoints, citing sources, Dončić has spent much of the offseason improving his comfort as a catch-and-shoot threat. The shift marks a departure from his usual on-ball, high-usage style and could prove pivotal in unlocking the Lakers’ offensive flow.
“He has also been in touch with coaches (Greg St. Jean is with him for EuroBasket, as an example) consistently this offseason to understand how they envision him impacting the game when LeBron James or Austin Reaves has the ball,” Irwin reported.
A Western Conference scout told Irwin that Dončić’s off-ball development could be a nightmare for defenses.
“Defenses should be nervous about him every second he’s on the court. If they aren’t, that’s on him,” the scout said. “He’s way too good to just stand in the corner when the ball isn’t in his hands.”
Doncic’s Catch-and-Shoot Numbers Tell the Story
Dončić’s catch-and-shoot game is hardly unpolished, but the numbers reveal a path forward. Last season, he converted 36.9% of his catch-and-shoot 3-pointers — slightly better than the 36.0% he managed on his trademark pull-up attempts, according to NBA shot tracking data. But volume told the bigger story: pull-ups made up 58% of his shot diet, while catch-and-shoots accounted for just 12.7%.
The disparity was largely a result of Dončić’s ball-dominant role in Dallas, where he orchestrated nearly every possession. Now in Los Angeles, he has to share responsibilities with James, one of the league’s premier facilitators, and Reaves, who thrives with the ball in his hands.
That balance has become a priority for first-year head coach JJ Redick. In March, Redick met with the trio to discuss offensive chemistry and warned against a predictable “your-turn-my-turn” system.
“We challenged all three of them when we get to their three-man actions to play with a little more force and a little more thrust and a little more creativity,” Redick told reporters at the time. “Without getting into the X’s and O’s, if we put you in an environment, don’t do the same thing every time. Make everything live, exhaust every option.”
LeBron, Reaves, Dončić Working on Chemistry
For James, who turns 41 this season, lessening his ball-handling burden is a necessity. Reaves, meanwhile, has emerged as a secondary creator, capable of running pick-and-rolls and keeping defenses honest. Dončić learning to thrive without monopolizing possessions could elevate all three.
GettyLos Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic of Slovenia reacts during the international basketball friendly match for Slovenia.
Lakers assistant coach Greg St. Jean, who also works with Slovenia’s national team, said training camp will be crucial for building that chemistry.
“The idea of Luka having an opportunity to play in training camp with us is going to be critical, and getting this team to build their chemistry and work together,” St. Jean told BasketNews. “LeBron and Luka being able to spend more time together, we think, will be really positive for both of them and obviously our team.”
Reaves said in March that the Lakers’ stars already trust one another to create the best outcome.
“‘Bron and Luka are so good. They make my life easy,” Reaves said. “Unselfish players who like to play the game the right way, unbelievable passers. So you just try to get the best outcome in every single possession. If we do that, locked into doing that, I feel like we can get a good shot every possession.
“So just having that creativity in whatever we’re running and just trusting it and trusting the pass is a big thing.”
Why Dončić’s Off-Ball Game Could Unlock Lakers
The Lakers invested heavily in Dončić to be more than a volume scorer. His ability to punish defenses both with and without the ball could make the difference between another playoff push and a deeper run toward an NBA Finals appearance.
For now, the focus is on reps — reps without the ball, reps in rhythm alongside James and Reaves, and reps that make opponents guard him every second of the game.
If Dončić can master that balance, the Lakers may have found the key to making their star trio thrive.
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