LeBron James recently made his long-awaited debut this season for the Los Angeles Lakers, and now, the team, led by their three-headed dragon of James, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reaves, looks to make progress in the Western Conference. However, outside, the conversation is shifting, as former Dallas Mavericks forward Chandler Parsons delivered a warning that didn’t just target LA but categorized its leaders with a group of whistle-dependent stars in today’s NBA.

Parsons, on Run It Back, didn’t waste time getting to the numbers. “[Luka Doncic is] getting double-figure scoring alone on the free throw line. And by the way, his teammate, I think, is third in free throws, Austin Reaves,” he said. Early this season, Doncic and Reaves have logged massive numbers at the line, with the Slovenian leading the league in average free throws attempted at 12.5, and Reaves not far behind, sitting at third with 9.8 attempts per game.

Paron’s message wasn’t an anti-Lakers rant, but a critique of the duo’s scoring formula and the foundation of their offense.

“They’re getting a lot of calls and… They’re dependent on this, on their offense,” the NBA analyst added. “I know, obviously it’s hard because they have mastered doing this, just like Jalen Brunson’s had… Defend them without fouling, and they are going to struggle, especially in the half-court, because this is their game. They create contact. They flail into you. They throw their head back every time there’s hands.” This isn’t necessarily disdain, but a scouting report… yes, they’re elite, but if you know what to look for, they’re also predictable.

That’s where this warning sharpened.

Parsons laid out the blueprint for defense against LA in plain, simple words: “So teams going forward have to realize, okay, they’re getting a lot of free throws, especially these two ball-dominant guys. You have to defend them without fouling, and I think their offense will obviously take a huge hit.”

Of course, that’s easier said than done, especially with LeBron James back, whose return adds an elite playmaker.

Though Doncic and Reaves will still be the primary ball-handlers, LeBron’s ability to finish plays at the rim, from the post, or from long range, gives the two guards an outlet to funnel offense through, and reduces their usage, which should, in turn, reduce their free-throw usage.

Of course, the Lakers, during the King James era, have been near the top of the league in free throws and near the bottom in three-point attempts, and their ability to draw fouls on drives and in the interior is part of their game plan. However, this style might fall apart when the playoffs arrive, with referees letting contact go unchecked, as was the case toward the end of last year’s Lakers-Wolves series.

LeBron James’ Wind Returns Slowly After Season Debut Against Utah Jazz

It didn’t take long for the crowd to see LeBron James back in form for his 23rd year: the chalk toss, the ball check, and the control. But once the game started, all eyes settled on how James would respond to the first NBA game in nearly seven months. Utah forced pace, movement, and decision-making, yet James still found ways to steady the Lakers.

After the game, LeBron admitted, “As the game went on and on my wind got a lot better, my second wind, third wind. Rhythm coming back.”

James also admitted that Utah‘s constant cutting action tested him early. It’s important to know that these were the same concerns he hinted at during the first practice with the team earlier this week, but, for stretches during the fourth quarter, he strung together six dimes that looked like muscle memory had overridden everything else.

Even coach JJ Redick appreciated the 40-year-old veteran’s unselfishness, saying that LeBron played with “the right spirit,” while reiterating it was “great to have him back.”

King James has already made it clear to the press that he isn’t worrying about chemistry with this Lakers side. Multiple times, the vet has also expressed that he isn’t assuming 2025-26 is his last season in the NBA. So, from the looks of it, the LA side, who already had a decent start to their campaign, have it even better now with LeBron back.