Carmelo Anthony: LeBron, Luka, Lakers 'Don't Get Enough Credit' for Style of Play

The Los Angeles Lakers are hitting their stride following a blockbuster trade that paired Luka Dončić alongside LeBron James, and one NBA legend believes the team isn't getting the respect it deserves.

On his podcast, 7PM in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony, a Wave original, Carmelo Anthony said what the Lakers have done lately isn't getting enough credit, especially on the defensive end.

"I just think that those teams don't get enough credit. Lakers don't get enough credit now," Anthony said (1:00:35 mark). "Boston, OKC, Cleveland, the way they play the game, the way they execute the game offensively, defensively, the way the Lakers execute right now defensively. Now we talking about defensively, they are locked down defensive team right now with Luka, right? I think Luka bought into what he has to do. Just give me effort. Just give me effort. We are not asking you to stop nobody. Just give me effort. Bron IQ on the game—understands how to place Luka in different strategies on how to rotate the defenses where Luka ain't crashing out to the corner and closing out to somebody who can drive. Like we going to keep Luka moving around. They expanded, they defend higher up the court. They in denial at the three-point line."

The Lakers went 1-2 in their first three games with Dončić in the lineup but have since been firing on all cylinders. Los Angeles has won its last seven games and jumped up to second place in the West at 39-21.

Dončić hasn't hit his full stride yet but is still putting up 22.9 points, 8.2 rebounds and 7.7 assists per game since joining the Lake Show.

The pairing of James and Dončić has worked well so far and the Lakers seem poised for a deep playoff run, but only time will tell if they have the makings of a championship team.