The Los Angeles Lakers might’ve had their worst defensive showing of the season last night, but it didn’t matter-not when Luka Doncic is putting on a performance like that. The superstar guard dropped a 45-point triple-double to carry L.A. to a 143-135 win over the Utah Jazz on the road, pushing the Lakers to 19-7 and locking them into a tie with the San Antonio Spurs for third in the Western Conference.
It wasn’t pretty on the defensive end. Allowing 135 points is never something you want to hang your hat on, especially against a young Jazz team still finding its rhythm.
But when your offense is firing like the Lakers’ was-and when Luka is in full command-sometimes you just outscore your problems. That’s exactly what they did.
This win also marked the Lakers’ second straight since falling to the Spurs in the NBA Cup semifinals. It’s been a solid bounce-back, and they’ve done it without Austin Reaves, who’s missed the last two games with a mild calf strain. Reaves has been a key piece for L.A. this season, so seeing the team hold steady without him is a positive sign, especially with the schedule tightening up heading into the holidays.
As for LeBron James? He’s still doing LeBron things in Year 23.
The 39-year-old followed up back-to-back games with identical 8-for-17 shooting lines, continuing to play a steady second fiddle to Luka’s brilliance. But it wasn’t his stat line that had people talking after the game-it was his postgame comments.
When asked whether Jazz rookie Keyonte George, who torched the Lakers for 34 points, is playing at an All-Star level, LeBron offered a response that set social media ablaze:
“Oh I’m the wrong guy to ask that question, champ. I watch YouTube golf these days so I’m the wrong guy to ask about that.”
He wasn’t done there. LeBron doubled down, adding,
“He played great tonight, he played great last time we played him and he’s playing good ball versus us, but yeah, I’m more into the Bryan Bros, Grant Horvat and Bryson DeChambeau and the rest of those guys.”
Naturally, the internet ran wild with it. The retirement speculation machine kicked into high gear.
Some fans took the golf comment as a sign that LeBron is mentally checking out, more interested in the fairway than the hardwood. “Yeah he’s not coming back after this year,” one fan posted.
Another added, “All this dude thinks about is golf.”
But let’s slow down for a second.
Yes, LeBron has clearly caught the golf bug. That much isn’t new-he’s been spotted on the links more frequently, and even took heat this past summer for being on a golf trip with his son instead of attending Luka’s contract extension presser. But let’s not confuse a personal hobby with professional disinterest.
LeBron is still producing. He’s averaging 18.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game.
The Lakers are 8-2 when he suits up. He might not be the No. 1 option anymore-that’s Luka’s role now-but he’s still playing at a high level and contributing in meaningful ways.
And let’s be honest: he doesn’t need to break down Keyonte George film every night to prove he’s locked in.
What we’re seeing is a future Hall of Famer evolving. He’s still competing, still impacting games, but also starting to enjoy life outside of basketball.
That’s not a sign of retirement-it’s a sign of balance. And if you’ve followed LeBron’s career, you know he’s always played the long game.
So, is the end near? Maybe.
Maybe not. But one thing is clear: LeBron’s not mailing it in.
He’s just mixing in a little golf between buckets.