While the Los Angeles Lakers have taken the past few days to celebrate Luka Doncic to a new extension, LeBron James has been busy enjoying his summer off.
James was not in attendance for Doncic’s press conference but did FaceTime his co-star to congratulate him on his new deal. Some initially took it as LeBron being passive aggressive, but it’s completely normal for NBA players’ schedules not to line up.
The upcoming 2025-26 season could very well be James’ last season in Los Angeles as he opted into his player option without a new contract in place. The franchise is all-in on building around Doncic, which could leave James as almost an afterthought in planning.
However, James reportedly is OK with the transition plan and will finish his career how he wants to, via Shams Charania of ESPN:
“I am told he’s been supportive and understanding that the Lakers are moving more towards a Luka Doncic-led future. Now, what does that mean for LeBron James? He’s opted in, so technically he’s a Laker. How will he finish his career though? Is he gonna play Year 23 and finish out in L.A. and that’s gonna be it? At the end of the day, I think the Lakers even understand he’s gonna end his career on his own terms. He wants to end his career on his own terms and I think he’s earned the right to do that. We just don’t know what that looks like yet.”
It’s good to hear that James is on board with the Lakers moving forward with Doncic, and it makes sense as he would likely do the same if he was in the organization’s shoes. Doncic is a generational superstar hitting his prime and Los Angeles needs to do what it takes to give him the players and support he needs to chase titles.
Meanwhile, it’s still a positive situation for James as a healthy and motivated Doncic presents his best chance to win at least one more title before retiring. While James might not prefer the current circumstances, the Lakers and Doncic ultimately make the most sense for him to close his career out with.
Rob Pelinka says LeBron James retiring with Lakers would be great
The Lakers are the perfect franchise for LeBron James to retire with as they know how to treat superstars. President of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka noted they’ll respect James’ wishes, but said it would be great if he retired with the team.
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