Feb 4, 2025; El Segundo, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic poses for photos with general manager Rob Pelinka and head coach JJ Redick at UCLA Health Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

'I Don’t See Them Going Far': LeBron James & Luka Doncic New Lakers Tandem Gets Underwhelming Prediction From Shaquille O’Neal

Originally posted on Hardwood Heroics
By Ernest Hernandez | Last updated Feb 8, 2025 10:11 AM ET

The Luka Doncic trade to the Los Angeles Lakers shocked the entire world and many are asking how he would coexist with LeBron James. Some buyers believe the newly formed tandem will create great things, but another side doesn’t think this move won’t earn many dividends.

Four-time NBA champion Shaquille O’Neal is skeptical about the Lakers’ NBA trade deadline moves. He acknowledged the talent level of James and Doncic but the depth of the Lakers is very questionable to go deep in the playoffs.

“You got two top-name players: LeBron and you got Luka. I don’t see who else they got. I don’t see them going far,” said O’Neal.

However, the basketball IQ of both James and Doncic is above charts in the entire league and Shaq has no doubt that both players will be able to find ways to play with each other.

“They can play together because they both do need the ball a lot. But when they do get the ball, they’re going to make great decisions. So, that’s why I think they can play together,” O’Neal said.

However, the three-time NBA Lakers champion gives valuable advice to Luka Doncic after the trade and with all the media circus.

“I would tell them, ‘M-E-S-T-F-U,'” O’Neal said. “Make ’em shut the f--- up.”

Before the blockbuster trade, Luka Doncic last played for the Dallas Mavericks on Christmas day against the Minnesota Timberwolves and has missed 21 consecutive games since then. During the games he played, he averaged 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.8 assists.

Shaquille O’Neal believes the Dallas Mavericks are better than the LeBron James & Luka Doncic-led Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers have traded big man Anthony Davis for the Slovenian superstar and Shaq is one of those who believe that the Mavericks got the better side of this deal because of the fit with Kyrie Irving and sharpshooter Klay Thompson.

By getting Davis in the blockbuster deal, the Mavericks added more depth to their big man rotation, who already has Daniel Gafford, Naji Marshall, P.J. Washington and Dwight Powell. 7-foot-1 Derek Lively will be returning soon to the Mavs roster, and the number of big men will allow Davis to play in his more natural position as the power forward.

“I think Dallas has probably won the trade because [Anthony Davis] goes into a natural position with better players around him,” O’Neal analyzed.

Before getting traded to the Mavericks, Anthony Davis averaged 24.2 points, 10.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in 42 games in the 2024-25 season. Those numbers and performances with the Lakers warranted him to play his 10th NBA All-Star Game and it would be his last time to play alongside LeBron James this season.

This article first appeared on Hardwood Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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