Luka Doncic Blamed for Ending LeBron James' Era in Los Angeles
There is never a dull moment in Los Angeles. As one of the most historic franchises in the NBA, the Lakers are always under the microscope. The franchise is set to change owners in a $10 billion transaction, while on the court, the Lakers are entering a new era with superstar guard Luka Doncic at the controls.
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Doncic becoming the leading man in LA means that LeBron James is a supporting actor for the first time in his legendary career. The four-time NBA champion picked up his player option to return to the Lakers next season, but agent Rich Paul has made it clear that James will be watching to see which corresponding moves the team makes in free agency.
As the Lakers move forward into a new era with Doncic at the helm, James seems to be contemplating the possibility that his record-breaking career could end with another franchise. And according to ESPN's Tim Bontemps, this is perhaps the best-case scenario for the Lakers.
"The moment the Lakers made that trade, the LeBron James era in Los Angeles ended," Bontemps said Wednesday on "First Take."
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Once the Lakers completed the Doncic deal with the Dallas Mavericks on Feb. 2, general manager Rob Pelinka's next move was to acquire a springy center who could play with Doncic. And even though the Lakers did not like the medical report on the Charlotte Hornets' Mark Williams, the message was clear: Los Angeles was no longer building around James and his skillset.
"The fact that (James) is on an expiring contract, that's the best thing that the Lakers could have," Bontemps said. "What matters to them is making sure Luka Doncic has his priorities set, not LeBron James."
Beginning next month, Doncic can sign a four-year extension in Los Angeles worth $229 million, or he can hit the market as a coveted free agent in 2026. Given that the Lakers are building their team around him, it stands to reason that Doncic will look favorably on the extension - and, perhaps, cast James' future with the franchise into further doubt.
Related: LeBron James Has No Answer for NBA Championship Question
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
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