Coach Confirms: Major Lineup Shuffle for LeBron James Going Forward!

 

The Los Angeles Lakers, as a team, have certainly had their troubles this season. But one thing that has been working, is LeBron James playing the 'five'. So much so, in fact, that head coach Frank Vogel says when Anthony Davis comes back from injury, LeBron and AD will be the primary co-centers.

Frank Vogel just indicated that, with LA’s success over the past month with center-less lineups, the Lakers will likely use Anthony Davis and LeBron James as their two primary centers once AD returns.

— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) January 1, 2022

LeBron at center has paid off in some huge performances lately for the King, not the least of which on New Year's Eve. 

LeBron really just started 2022 with 43 and 14, playing Center 😂😂😂

— bronny james III (@J_Runyon23) January 1, 2022

LeBron dropped 43 points along with 14 rebounds and 4 assists in the Lakers trouncing of the Portland Trail Blazers Friday night, 139-106. Heading into that game, the Lakers were +118 better with LeBron at the five than any other player. 

In fact, the absolute clinic he's putting on at center has many Laker observers hoping that AD is taking notes. 

hope AD watched how LeBron just dropped 32/11/11 as the starting center

— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) December 29, 2021

lebron literally beat ad's best statline this year in just 29 mins LOL AT CENTER

— Nova 💫 (@NovaNoCap) January 1, 2022

Until this past Tuesday, James said he had never started a game at center in his life. Now, in his 19th season, could he have reinvented himself? As acting coach David Fizdale said about LeBron's success in the middle: "I don’t think you guys realize what this guy just did!”

Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports