In a recent episode of their Game Over podcast, hosts Max Kellerman and Rich Paul went back and forth over the Los Angeles Lakers' success without LeBron James this season. While some believe James' exit paved a path for Luka Doncic to find his stride amidst an MVP-caliber start to the 2026-27 campaign, LeBron's agent strongly disagrees.

Lakers' Doncic is leading the NBA in scoring, averaging an absurd 38.3 points per game. However, for Paul, it's the Lakers' defense that has helped them to an impressive start to the regular season, he said, per The Ringer's Game Over podcast.

“The Lakers have done a great job from a personnel perspective of putting the pieces together that plays a better team defensive game. I've watched several games and been to one,” Paul said. “And when you look at the guys that have been added — Sexton, Thybulle, Kessler — you got guys like Vanderbilt, when allowed to play, has come off the bench; he's active, and energizing, and things like that. Nobody in the NBA can guard anybody one-on-one.”

Max Kellerman, focusing on Luka Doncic's incredible start, believes LeBron James' exit helped uncork Doncic's vision as the Lakers' sole leader surrounded by a revamped roster.

“I think Luka was very motivated once LeBron got moved to have his team,” Kellerman said, to which Paul replied, “What does LeBron have to do with it? LeBron doesn't have anything to do with that.”

“He does,” Kellerman insisted. “Because, for whatever reason, though they were injured a lot at different times, the whole was not greater than sum of its parts with those two on the floor. And part of that happens when really a guy needs the ball. I think the spector of LeBron and Luka trying to do the right thing created a confusion on the team.”

For Rich Paul, the everchanging narrative surrounding James is the underlying issue to how people are analyzing the Lakers' recent success.

“As media, we gotta get out of the habit of mentioning LeBron. That man don't have [anything] to do with this year,” Paul said. “He had a contractual obligation no longer. That has nothing to do with it. Why would you go into somewhere in worse shape because someone else is there. I think that's very elementary of us to think that way.”

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Kellerman retorted the Lakers already look better without James with a 6-2 record eight games into the 2026-27 regular season.