In a show of how much he wants to win and not be traded from the Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James admitted his willingness to humble himself in 2025 and play No. 2 to the new face of the franchise, Luka Doncic.
After missing much of the first month of the season, James finally returned to the Lakers lineup. His comeback opens the door to questions about the NBA icon’s role on a team that has gotten off to a pretty good start this season due to some outstanding play from Austin Reaves and Doncic.
Wherever the 21-time All-Star has been, even when he was an 18-year-old entering the league in 2003, he has been the man on his team. And understandably so, since he has been the best player, often by a wide margin, on whatever team he played on. However, at 40 years old, he finds himself in the rare position of not being the man on his current team.
The Lakers have not hidden the fact that the 26-year-old Doncic is the new face of their franchise. It’s why there has been speculation since the summer that he could eventually be traded out of LaLa Land. But it seems James sees a real chance at another championship this season and is ready to play second fiddle to the Slovenian superstar.
LeBron James willing to do whatever Lakers want?
LeBron on how he’s fitting in with Luka and the Lakers
“All I care about is winning. I’ve done everything in my career including winning. I want to continue that so I will very easily fit myself right on in at whatever capacity the team needs me to be in”
(Via @mindthegamepod) pic.twitter.com/vnLBXLqwPz
— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) November 28, 2025
“All I care about is winning. I’ve done everything in my career, including winning. I want to continue that, so I will very easily fit myself right in at whatever capacity the team needs me to be in,” James said when asked about his role with the team during a new edition of his Mind the Game podcast with Steve Nash.
Obviously, James must back up his words. But it is a great sign for Doncic and the Lakers that one of the greatest players of all time, who is still an All-Star level player, is willing to play in a secondary dirty work role if it helps them win a championship this season.
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After earning his journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos served as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sucka ... More about Jason Burgos