It appears that LeBron James has ghosted the Lakers’ newest acquisition.
Center Deandre Ayton, who signed with Lakers on Sunday for $16.6 million, said he’s heard from Luka Doncic since joining the team but not James.
“Not really yet, but I definitely got a text from Luka,” Ayton told Jorge Sedano and Scott Kaplan following his official press conference.
“I know how the off-season go, and this is not my first rodeo. People are probably busy and training and having times with their families. But I’m just waiting, I’m just trying to integrate myself with the team and trying to get to know everybody.”
LeBron, of course, recently opted into his $52.6 million player option for 2025-26, but remains the subject of trade speculation, even if the Knicks have said thanks, but no thanks.
James was shown on social media recently at the Cleveland Cavaliers practice facility and ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said he was “poking the bear.”
James is entering his 23rd -- and possibly final -- NBA season and wants to contend for a championship in the brutal Western Conference that features the reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder and the re-tooled Houston Rockets with Kevin Durant.
The Lakers let locker room favorite Dorian Finney-Smith walk to the Rockets because they didn’t want to pay a tax, and previously let Alex Caruso leave, something the team regretted.
The team still has a core of James, Doncic and Austin Reaves, plus Ayton, but it’s unclear if James believes this is enough to contend for a title.
At any rate, he still hasn’t reached out to Ayton.
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Adam Zagoria is a freelance reporter and Basketball Insider for NJ Advance Media. You may follow him on Twitter @AdamZagoriaand check out his Website atZAGSBLOG.com.
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