The Los Angeles Lakers' future dramatically changed when they acquired Luka Doncic in early February. The focus was no longer on 40-year-old LeBron, but on their new young star. How the Lakers have navigated the offseason proves that, for the first time in his career, it's not all about LeBron.
After LeBron exercised his $52.8 million player option, his agent, Rich Paul, released a statement to ESPN that led many to believe that the star wanted to compete for a championship elsewhere. After weeks of trade speculation (a lot of which didn't make sense), The Athletic reported that LeBron and the Lakers hadn't talked about a buyout or a trade.
The expectation is that LeBron will be at training camp. His contract in LA is set to expire at the end of next season after the Lakers didn't talk to him about an extension, per ESPN. His future hangs in the balance, and not just because retirement is coming.
Los Angeles is now Luka's team. He'll start his first full season with the team in a few months, a season that will be structured around him. Luka will be the No. 1 option. He's going to take more shots and facilitate the offense. LeBron will play more off the ball.
Things might seem like they're okay in LeBron Land (at least for now), but will that change once the season starts?
How will the 2025-26 season go for LeBron and the Lakers?
It's nearly impossible to envision next season going smoothly for LeBron and LA. His situation hasn't simmered down, but instead, it's building beneath the surface.
LeBron likes to be the center of attention. He's done more than enough to deserve to be the center of attention. He will always be a center of attention because of who he is, but the Lakers now have another player taking up the spotlight.
How that will affect LeBron on (and off) the court is to be determined. He and Luka played together in the second half of last season, but that was before the organization restructured its offseason around Luka.
The Lakers made a series of moves this summer, but none that rivaled top contenders in the conference. LeBron wants to make another run at a championship, which could still happen in LA, but it's not exactly likely.
There shouldn't be tension between LeBron and Luka, as both understand the nature of the business, but the tension could (and likely will) increase between LeBron and the Lakers.