LeBron James didn’t have much trouble adapting to the Los Angeles Lakers’ acquisition of Luka Dončić ahead of the NBA trade deadline.

In the newest installment of the Mind the Game podcast, James said he learned how to operate in a motion offense at a young age without leaning heavily on two-man pick-and-rolls. The offensive mindset he built didn’t change much when he started playing in the NBA, and that served him well when Dončić arrived.

“It was always a numbers game for me growing up,” he said. “When you get into the NBA, obviously things change and it’s all about how can we target here or whatever the case may be or get the numbers game. But it was the same mind frame for me from when I was a kid. Me being able to take a step back but also still be laser-sharp and focused on what’s the job at hand. It’s a sacrifice, but it’s not something that I’m not willing to do for the betterment of the team.”
James was already sharing the floor with a marquee star in Anthony Davis, so teaming Dončić wasn’t a dramatic change in that regard. Granted, Luka is one of the most ball-dominant players in the league, which is a distinction that doesn’t apply to Davis.

Most expected the Lakers to go through an adjustment phase as James and Dončić built their on-court chemistry, and that has proven true in some regard.

Before the trade, Los Angeles ranked 12th in offensive rating (113.9, per NBA.com). Since Dončić debuted in purple and gold on Feb. 10, the team is 19th in offensive rating (114.3).

Thanks to an improved defense, the Lakers have solidified their playoff outlook. They’re fourth in the Western Conference at 46-29, three games up on the seventh-place Minnesota Timberwolves to avoid the play-in tournament.

In the immediate aftermath of the trade, it was a little unclear whether James was totally on board given his friendship and what the addition of Luka represented. Instead, the deal has probably worked out better than expected so far.