LeBron James ' return after a back injury layoff is proving to be a real headache for the Los Angeles Lakers and their coach, JJ Redick. The reason? The team, without its superstar, has found an unexpected and effective balance.

The Doncic-Reaves era

With eight wins in eleven games, the Lakers have firmly established themselves in the top four of the Western Conference. This success is the result of a new and dazzling chemistry led by the duo of Luka Doncic (37.1 points per game) and Austin Reaves (30.3 points per game). Players like Rui Hachimura, DeAndre Ayton, and Marcus Smart also contribute to this starting five that is firing on all cylinders.

This is what leads some observers, such as Stephen Brun in the Basket Time podcast, to say that the team's center of gravity has shifted:

"These are Luka Doncic's Lakers, not LeBron James' Lakers anymore. The starting five is working perfectly. Does JJ Redick have the guts to bring LeBron off the bench?"

The role of the sixth man: a sporting logic?

The question is bold but not without merit from a purely sporting perspective. Former international Fred Weis agrees, stating that "that's the logical approach in sport."

The idea would be to offer LeBron James a high-level sixth-man role, where he could exert his influence and creativity on the game when Doncic is resting. Stephen Brun elaborates on this proposal:

"You can tell him that as a starter he won't get much of the ball... or that coming off the bench, he's the one who creates all the play."

This scenario would not only prevent breaking the current momentum, but also maximize the impact of LeBron, who was still averaging 24.4 points last year.

The weight of status

However, the issue isn't just about sports; it's also about politics. We're talking about LeBron James , an NBA icon and one of the greatest players of all time, who will soon be turning 40.

Such a decision, unprecedented for a player of his stature, could clash with the realities of the NBA microcosm. Brun is skeptical about Redick's ability to impose this choice.

"The NBA is a player-driven league; JJ Redick will be overwhelmed by LeBron's power."

Expected in the coming days, the return of the "King" will undoubtedly fuel a debate that promises to be one of the most heated of the season: how to reintegrate a legend without sabotaging the team's unexpected success?