LeBron James' future with the Los Angeles Lakers has been one of the biggest talking points this offseason. With the Lakers now seemingly shifting their focus to Luka Doncic and his interests, The Ringer's Bill Simmons came up with an interesting analogy to describe the current situation for James.
“So they announced the Luka extension," Simmons said. "It’s basically a two-year deal, he has a player option for the third year, and ... it sets himself up to make a kajillion dollars in 2028. And then LeBron’s over there and he’s Instagramming out his workouts, and the whole thing is just bizarre to watch.
“LeBron James has been in control of every situation he’s ever been in basketball-wise," Simmons continued. "Who has always held the cards, and this is the first time ever where that’s not the case. And now the Lakers, it’s almost like watching somebody move in their younger, hotter girlfriend, but the ex-wife is still living in the house, taking selfies of themselves.
“I’m riveted, I can’t wait to see how this plays out from a media manipulation standpoint over the next two weeks," Simmons added. "I have my fork, my knife, and my plate, my napkins ready to go.”
James' greatness as a player had led to him always being in control. The 21-time All-Star could potentially strong-arm a front office into making moves he wanted, but that's no longer the case now.
For the first time in James' career, he is playing alongside someone who is better than him. Doncic is the one who can call the shots, and he played a big role in Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart signing with the Lakers.
In years past, James has had his teams bring in players he wanted. While the Lakers didn't always make moves that the 40-year-old desired, his voice was the loudest in the room. Now, it's Doncic's.
Like Simmons, James' former teammate, Kendrick Perkins, believes that he and his agent, Rich Paul, don't control the Lakers anymore. Perkins thinks Doncic and his agent, Bill Duffy, are the new sheriffs in town.
With all this happening, every move James makes or doesn't make gets highlighted and analyzed. Most recently, he was one of the few Lakers players who didn't attend Doncic's press conference after he signed his three-year, $165 million extension.
James' absence, just days after he posted pictures of his training at a former Los Angeles Clippers facility, signaled to some that he was expressing his displeasure. It was later reported, though, that he had FaceTimed Doncic to congratulate him on getting that extension. So, any talk of a rift can be put to bed.
Still, it does seem like James won't be on the Lakers after the 2025-26 season. The team reportedly prefers that his contract is off their books in 2026, and that was never the case in the past. Teams did all they could to hold on to James, but Doncic's presence means the Lakers are comfortable with the prospect of his departure.
Should James become a free agent in 2026, you'd imagine he'd have plenty of suitors. He averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 8.2 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game in 2024-25, and there is gas left in the tank.
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