LeBron James has no longer-term future with the Lakers because LA has shifted its focus to Luka Doncic, didn't offer him a contract extension, left him out of key decisions like the ownership sale, and is prioritizing multi-year plans over his current title window.
LeBron James has been the heart and soul of the Los Angeles Lakers since joining the team in 2018. But everything changed this past February when the Lakers made a big move, acquiring star Luka Doncic.
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Now, Doncic has become the new centerpiece of the franchise. This shift is one of the reasons why LeBron's future with the LA Lakers no longer looks long-term—not just because he's turning 41 in December.
According to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne and Brian Windhorst, LeBron feels the Lakers haven't fully appreciated everything he's done, especially as the team's focus shifts toward Luka.
"James understood the Lakers taking advantage of an opportunity to pivot to the younger superstar. But from James' perspective, sources said, nuance was sometimes lost during the transition," Shelburne and Windhorst wrote.
"Doncic had never asked to be a Laker. James, for his part, had chosen L.A., coming in 2018 when the team had missed the playoffs five consecutive seasons, the worst run for the franchise since it moved from Minneapolis. Two years later, James had helped deliver a 17th championship," they added.
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ESPN insider Shams Charania reported that LeBron feels the Lakers are focused more on the future than the present—something that concerns the 40-year-old legend who's still chasing titles.
"He feels clearly that the Lakers are more in a futuristic mindset," Charania said on Sirius XM NBA Radio.
Charania also mentioned that "hard conversations" between James and the Lakers are expected in the coming months.
All signs point to the Lakers planning to move on from LeBron by spring 2026, according to Shelburne and Windhorst.
"The Lakers had already made their statement in not offering James a contract beyond this season," they wrote.
"Whether the 2025-26 season is to be James' final season in the NBA is up to him. But if he wanted the kind of Hollywood ending that only the Lakers can give legends of the game, the release date was set. Spring, 2026. Luka Doncic in, LeBron James out."
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Not offering an extension is a major setback.
Additionally, when the Lakers' ownership changed hands this summer—Mark Walter acquired a majority stake—the team gave Doncic a heads-up, and he even congratulated the new owner publicly.
Despite all that, James has already opted into his $52.6 million player option for the 2025-26 season. He has a no-trade clause in his contract.
There are rumors that his first NBA team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, might be interested in bringing him back, but that would likely depend on a potential buyout.
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