LeBron Says Critics 'Wrong' For Thinking a Team Can't Win Title After Midseason Trade

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James had a simple response to critics who think it's not possible for a team to win an NBA championship after a blockbuster midseason trade.

"Well, they're wrong," James said with a laugh at the 27:15 mark in the Season 2 debut of the Mind The Game podcast. "They're wrong."

The Lakers pulled off the heist of the century when they convinced the Dallas Mavericks to send 26-year-old phenom Luka Dončić to Hollywood in exchange for a deal that included star big man Anthony Davis.

James explained to his new co-host Steve Nash that acquiring players of their caliber inevitably leads to adjustments, but it's up to the team to maximize the talent they acquired.

"It's very challenging, especially midseason, because you really start the season in September, and you start to implement what you want to do offensively and what you want to do defensively. ... When you add a blockbuster trade where you bring in a Luka Dončić, or if Anthony Davis goes to Dallas, you have to kind of rearrange how we're playing," James said.

The Lakers have thrived since adding Dončić and rank first in the Pacific Division and fourth in the Western Conference with a 46-29 record.

The 40-year-old James is hoping to have a shot at earning a fifth career championship before he ends his legendary NBA career. Continuing to develop his chemistry with Dončić will be the key to the Lakers' success going forward.