LeBron Reacts to His Role on Lakers with Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves Injured Ahead of NBA Playoffs

LeBron James has been at the forefront of the Los Angeles Lakers' offense recently after Luka Dončić (Grade 2 left hamstring strain) and Austin Reaves (Grade 2 left oblique muscle injury) suffered injuries that will keep them out for the rest of the regular season at minimum and into the playoffs.

Of course, that's a role James has been accustomed to over his legendary 23-year career, but he spoke about moving back into that position on Friday after his team beat the visiting Phoenix Suns 101-73.

"I had to tap back into a role that I've been accustomed to in the past, but obviously, it wasn't what it was this year," James said, per ESPN's Dave McMenamin. "But circumstances have put me back in there, and I'm just trying to feed off my teammates, teammates are feeding off of me and just trying to make things happen for us to continue to stay afloat."

James has averaged 21.0 points on 15.3 shots per game and 7.2 assists this season, but he's posted 28.0 PPG on 18.3 FGA and 12.7 APG over the Lakers' last three contests with Dončić and Reaves absent over the Lakers' last three contests. In essence, James is now in the Dončić role of sorts of late.

On Friday, James' tremendous effort led to a Laker win, as he amassed 28 points, 12 assists, six rebounds and four steals in the 28-point victory.

L.A. has one more regular-season game on Sunday at home against the Utah Jazz. A win and a Denver Nuggets loss at the San Antonio Spurs vaults the Lakers into the No. 3 seed and a first-round rematch against the No. 6 seed Minnesota Timberwolves. Otherwise, L.A. will be the No. 4 seed and play the No. 5 seed Houston Rockets.