Stephen A. Smith agrees with NBA veteran Marcus Morris about LeBron James' recent playing style

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Updated: Mar 27, 2025, 17:15 IST

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LeBron James is thriving post-Anthony Davis trade to the Mavericks, averaging 26.3 points per game. Analysts like Stephen A. Smith and Marcus Morris believe James benefits from playing in his natural position, leading to more uncontested shots and better performance.

Stephen A. Smith agrees with NBA veteran Marcus Morris about LeBron James' recent playing style

LeBron James (Image via Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

LeBron James is currently out with an injury, missing a few games over the last couple of weeks. But prior to his injury, James was having some of his best game time this season, averaging 26.3 points per game and 9.5 rebounds per game. And according to some analysts, it's possibly because Anthony Davis leaving has opened up space for him that wasn't there before. The Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade has been quite the boon for him.

Stephen A. Smith thinks Anthony Davis was in LeBron James' way

When Anthony Davis was still playing alongside LeBron James for the Los Angeles Lakers, their position of play often clashed, leading to James missing out on his natural position quite a lot. But with Davis traded off to the Dallas Mavericks and Luka Doncic in the Lakers team, James is now in a position that enhances his play.

Anthony Davis was IN LEBRON'S WAY? 😲 Why Stephen A. agrees with Marcus Morris' comments | First Take

NBA veteran Marcus Morris believes LeBron suits the #4 position at this stage in his career and is more comfortable playing there. And Stephen A. Smith seems to agree. Speaking on First Take, he said:
"I think that that was an excellent analysis on the part of Marcus Morris. Luka Doncic coming to the team, being able to draw attention from defenses is going to free up others to shoot 3s. And one of those people is going to include LeBron James, who’s essentially your wideout because he gets to operate more in open space. He gets to play bully ball when he wants to because he’s 6'9", 260, or he gets to step outside because he’s improved his 3-point shot. And oh, by the way, he’s having more uncontested three-point shots than he ever has had in a Lakers uniform."
Prior to his injury, King James was shooting 51.8% from the floor and 36.7% from three. This means his three-point shots are mostly unchallenged now that Davis is gone. Hopefully this form continues after his return.

While Davis is one of the best players in the league, he is currently out with an adductor strain. He has so far played only one game for the Mavs since he was traded at the beginning of February. He is currently warming up with the G League team and is expected back in the main roster soon.
Also Read: ‘It’s Nothing New to Him’: LeBron James on Bronny James Handling Pressure After Lakers’ Defeat Against Chicago Bulls

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TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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