With a break in the 2022 NBA playoff schedule, LeBron James spent part of Monday night answering questions on Twitter. Covering a variety of topics during the Q&A, James praised Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving on multiple occasions.
James named six different players when asked who is the best player left in the 2022 playoffs. Not only did James put Doncic in that group, but he also said the Dallas Mavericks star is his favorite player under 25 years old.
A lot of great players still playing. Steph, Luka, Jimmy, Tatum, Klay, etc etc! These boys are hooping this post season!
— LeBron James (@KingJames)
LUKA. He's my fav player!!
— LeBron James (@KingJames)
When asked about the top shooter he’s ever played with, James included Irving in a list of nine different players. James later put Irving in even greater company, saying he would choose Irving, Kobe Bryant or Kevin Durant if he had to choose one teammate for a two-on-two game against Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen.
The timing of James’ comments about Irving came shortly after the Brooklyn Nets star spoke about his former teammate with the Cleveland Cavaliers. In an appearance on "I Am Athlete," Irving said he regretted not speaking with James after he requested a trade from the Cavaliers in 2017.
Cleveland went 1-2 in three straight NBA Finals appearances from 2015 to 2017 with James and Irving on the roster. Had Irving not been traded to the Boston Celtics in 2017, the guard believes the duo would’ve won more than just the one title together.
"If I was in the same maturity line and understanding of who I am [now], and I look back, we definitely, definitely would've won more championships," Irving said. "Because there would've been a better man-to-man understanding [with LeBron] about what I'm going through. I didn't know how to share my emotions. I didn't know how to do that. So instead of sharing, I isolated myself."
Unlike Irving, Doncic has never played with James. It appears unlikely that the two superstars will become teammates before James calls it a career, but the idea can’t be ruled out.
Mike Miller. James Jones, Kyle Korver, Swish, Kyrie, Jesus Shuttlesworth, DJ19, C Frye, KLove
— LeBron James (@KingJames)
Kobe, KD or Kyrie
— LeBron James (@KingJames)
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst made headlines in April when he suggested that James might have his eyes on playing with Doncic at some point. Windhorst pointed out that James has selected Doncic in the NBA All-Star Draft in three consecutive years.
Doncic is probably going to be in Dallas for years to come. The 23-year-old signed a five-year, $207 million supermax rookie extension with the Mavericks last August. Dallas is coming off an upset of the Phoenix Suns in the second round of the playoffs with a real chance to make the 2022 NBA Finals.
James, on the other hand, can become a free agent after next season.
Irving can become a free agent this summer or opt-in to the final year of his contract. The Nets haven’t yet committed to inking Irving to a long-term deal.
LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles the ball against Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks in the first quarter at American Airlines Center on Nov. 1, 2019 in Dallas. Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
