Luka Doncic has accepted his role as the center of the Los Angeles Lakers' universe. LeBron James will need to do some soul searching to truly consider whether his positioning within the organization is something the all-time great can accept.
Doncic, as expected, put pen to paper on a new contract extension with the Lakers. Shams Charania reported that Luka inked a three-year, $165 million deal with Los Angeles. That brand-new agreement also includes a player option in 2028.
What is abundantly clear from this situation, and it has been for months, is that the Lakers are pivoting to put all of their focus on Doncic's timeline with the franchise. That does not mean James is a complete afterthought.
However, the all-time great is truly the Robin by every stretch of the imagination. With no immediate indication of a looming retirement after the 2025-26 season, and a contract that is about to expire, James will need to answer one of the toughest questions of his career.
LeBron James must accept secondary role with Lakers — or leave
There was a lot of rumored drama stirred up earlier in the offseason about the relationship between James and the Lakers. That may have been overdone. For better or for worse, LeBron will likely be with the team for the 2025-26 season.
There will be no buyout. A logical trade, that benefits the Lakers as much as it does LeBron, before or during the upcoming campaign would be tough to imagine and draw up at this point. Plus, Bronny James is hitting his stride with the team.
The flight risk is not a massive one right now. However, the 2026 offseason is where things get interesting.
James has been the sun that all of his teams have revolved around at every significant point of his career up until last season's blockbuster that brought Doncic to Los Angeles. Now, the Lakers have a new bright and shining star to orbit.
The NBA's all-time scoring leader has enjoyed the benefits of having rosters being constructed around him, and even getting to play a role in what that looks like, to whatever capacity the franchises offered. That is gone.
Doncic is the one who Rob Pelinka would likely be running acquisitions by. The superstar point guard even played the role of recruiter, that James is very familiar with, during the summer of 2025.
Can James accept just being a cog in the machine, and not being the driving engine?
If the four-time champion is content with surrendering that power, there should be minimal issues with continuing his time in Los Angeles up until his eventual retirement. If LeBron wants to remain the puppet master, it may be time to start eyeing other destinations.