LeBron James may still wear the crown, but according to Charles Barkley, it is time to hand over the throne, because this Los Angeles Lakers team now belongs to Luka Doncic.
Barkley says the Lakers are now Doncic's team, not LeBron’s
“It’s already probably Luka’s team now,” Barkley said on The Bill Simmons Show. “You don’t sign, trade for Luka Doncic, give him all that money, and it’s not his team.”
Barkley didn’t stop there. He compared LeBron’s current reality to what other all-time greats went through late in their careers, stepping back so the next generation could lead.
“Kareem did it with Magic. Tim Duncan did it with Tony Parker, [Manu] Ginobili, and Kawhi Leonard,” Barkley said. “The baton has to be passed from everybody.”
There is no controversy here, just a shift that was eventually bound to happen. LeBron is 40 years old. Lukais just 26 years old and entering his prime. The Lakers did not go all-in on Doncic just to use him as a co-star. They brought him in to be the guy. Their moves this year prove that clearly.
For the first time in LeBron’s career, he is not at the center of a team’s identity. Even though he is still playing at a high level, last season he averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists; it is pretty obvious that the franchise’s long-term direction is no longer tied to him.
Barkley was clear about that, too: “The Lakers haven’t been relevant. The bubble was the last time they’ve been relevant.”
That 2020 title is still an important part of LeBron’s legacy, but since then, the Lakers have struggled to find consistency. They have missed the playoffs twice, had early exits, and never looked like real contenders. Now, the front office is making moves for the future, and the future is Doncic.
If there are any doubts about how big a shift this is, just listen to Barkley’s take: “Playing with Luka Doncic is like winning the lottery.”
It’s not a slight against LeBron; it is a reminder that he is in a different chapter now.
LeBron picked up his player option for the 2025–26 season. There are whispers about a possible trade down the line, but nothing concrete.
What is clear is that the Lakers are moving forward, and whether LeBron chooses to fully embrace that or not is up to him. He is still an icon. Still a leader. But as Barkley pointed out, the baton is already in Doncic’s hands.