NBA statistics are reigniting the debate surrounding the Los Angeles Lakers.

When Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves take the floor without LeBron James, Los Angeles has posted a 9-2 record, a figure that is sparking discussion among fans and analysts.

Lineup data tells a similar story. Among all combinations involving the team’s three stars, the duo with the best net rating is Doncic and Reaves. The partnership between LeBron James and Luka Doncic, however, has produced negative numbers.

The on-court fit between Doncic and Reaves appears natural: Luka controls the tempo and creates offense, while Reaves moves without the ball, spaces the floor and attacks defenses on closeouts, keeping the Lakers’ offense flowing.

Numbers like these inevitably fuel a narrative that resurfaces regularly, especially this season: that the Lakers might actually play better without LeBron James.

Statistics help point to a direction, but the reality is likely more complex. The real goal for the team led by JJ Redick is not to prove it can win with just one pairing, but rather to find the right balance between Doncic, James and Reaves.

It is precisely from this technical and tactical coexistence, more than from any isolated statistic, that the true potential of the Los Angeles Lakers could emerge.