The Los Angeles Lakers — at least entering the 2025-26 season — look as though they are going to be built around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves for the foreseeable future. Doncic is under contract for at least three seasons, while Reaves is slated to be an unrestricted free agent next summer, with many indications pointing towards a long-term deal in L.A.
The player with the uncertain future, both with the Lakers and in the NBA at all, is LeBron James. The all-time superstar is entering his 23rd season and is also going to be an unrestricted free agent next summer. But he hasn’t indicated in any direction whether he wants to continue playing, or playing for the Lakers if he does. That is especially the case considering he is currently dealing with an injured and will miss Opening Night for the first time in his career.
Doncic and Reaves certainly love playing next to one of the game’s greatest players ever, and still one of the ten best in the game right now. They hope to continue doing so, even if they don’t personally know which way he’s leaning, according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN:
Doncic and Reaves, for their part, love playing with James and want the partnership to continue, sources told ESPN.
Both players have not inquired with James about when he plans to retire, sources said, wanting to show respect for James’ process.
The Lakers, and everyone on the roster, have shown that they are going to let LeBron make decisions at whatever pace he wants, and that he is going to be as in control of his future as possible. At the moment, the bigger focus is on him recovering from sciatica that is going to hold him out of the beginning of the season.
Perhaps James returning this season and helping the Lakers contend for a championship could make him want to play another year in L.A. And while that would be the ideal world for both Doncic and Reaves, they have no plans to pressure him into any sort of early decision.
How LeBron James fared in NBA GM survey
The fact that LeBron James made the All-NBA Second Team at 40 years old in his 22nd NBA season is truly unbelievable. And now as he is set to begin his record-breaking 23rd year in the league, James remains one of the best players in the NBA today.
The release of the annual NBA GM Survey ahead of this season is once again proof that LeBron is truly unlike any player the league has ever seen. Even though he didn’t win any categories, the Lakers star still found himself receiving votes in multiple areas.
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