LOS ANGELES (USA) - Are you ready for "Olympic Bron"?
LeBron James and Luka Doncic are two of the world's best and most famous players, and Los Angeles Lakers teammates since February 1, when the latter was traded by the Dallas Mavericks to Tinseltown for Anthony Davis.
They form what is potentially a lethal one-two punch that will carry the Lakers deep into the play-offs.
A trade that seems to have been won by the Lakers is nothing new.
The deal for Doncic has brought back memories of the Lakers acquiring Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1975 when he was at the peak of his career and just 28 years old.
In 2008, the Lakers worked a trade with Memphis that brought another FIBA legend, Pau Gasol, to the team.
Lakers fans can't believe their luck, that their team added yet another generational talent via a trade.
But how will Doncic—third in MVP voting last season when the Mavs reached the NBA Finals—play alongside James, 40, a four-time MVP in the final stages of his amazing career? Who’s going to hold the ball, make the pass, take the shots? This new partnership raises many basketball questions.
Matt Barnes. who played for numerous teams in his 16-year NBA career, including the Lakers, envisions James performing the way he did for USA last summer when he led the Americans to the gold medal at the Olympics in Paris.
I think Bron wants to play how he played in the Olympics
"I think Bron wants to play how he played in the Olympics," Barnes said on the All the Smoke Productions.
"'Let me be a Swiss Army Knife. Don't let me have to have 30 every night and these crazy triple-doubles. Let me get these 17, 12 and 11 triple-doubles' while Luka is going for 40 and you get (Gabe) Vincent going and you get Austin (Reaves going).
"He wants to be a Swiss Army Knife at this point and if (Lakers General Manager) Rob Pelinka has put a team around him where he can do that now, maybe Bron can be 'Olympic Bron' now and let Luka carry the torch."
If James plays as well as he did at the Olympics, where he won the event's MVP Award, and that performance combines with Doncic and the other talents on the LA roster, the team would be formidable.
James averaged 14.2 points, 6.8 rebounds and 8.5 assists per game in France. If he wasn't scoring, he was setting up teammates, grabbing important rebounds and loose balls and driving teammates forward with inspirational words.
In the USA's biggest test, a 95-91 come-from-behind triumph over Serbia in the Semi-Finals, James had 16 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists.
James looked as good as ever in France, better than his first three Olympic tournaments when claimed a couple of gold medals (2008, 2012) and a bronze (2004).
It will be fascinating to see him compete alongside Doncic.
The trade of the Slovenian, who has been All-NBA First Team five times, left nearly everyone scratching their heads.
It's true that injuries have limited the superstar to 24 games this season and that Dallas felt like Davis was a better fit for their current roster as they go for NBA glory this season.
Doncic is still averaging, however, in this difficult campaign an eye-popping 27.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 7.5 assists per game.
If he gets back to his best in the NBA and dominates as he has for Slovenia in FIBA ball over the years, Lakers Land may end up seeing 'Olympic Bron.' And they may have a real shot at making a deep postseason run this year.
FIBA