The Los Angeles Lakers are entering a new chapter, and LeBron James holds the pen. Whether this season ends in confetti or chaos may come down to one trait that is rarely discussed in sports debates, and that is grace.
For the first time since arriving in Los Angeles, LeBron is not the unquestioned centerpiece. That title now belongs to Luka Doncic, who begins his first full season as a Laker with the team clearly restructured around his unique brilliance.
Doncic is younger, fresher, and entering his prime. The future of the franchise is now being built around him. Everyone, including LeBron, knows it. Knowing it and accepting it are two different things.
LeBron James must offer Lakers grace
Howard Beck recently noted on the Ringer NBA, "If LeBron fully embraces elder statesman secondary option where Luka is now the focus, ... There is a version of this where if he’s all in, even with maybe a flawed supporting cast, the Lakers could be really great.”
A LeBron who embraces a guiding role, not just in words but in demeanor, could unlock the best version of this Lakers team. There is still plenty of gas in LeBron’s tank.
He is one of the smartest players in league history, still an elite scorer, and a gifted facilitator. But at 40 years old and heading into his 23rd season, the Lakers do not need him to be the engine. They need him to be the stabilizer.
We have seen this kind of formula before: a younger star takes the reins, and the veteran icon adapts. It worked for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson. It has worked across generations in sports when handled with maturity. The question is, will LeBron let it happen?
His presence alone carries weight. His basketball IQ could elevate Doncic. His leadership, if shown with humility, could bring harmony to a team still searching for chemistry after last season’s reshuffling.
All of that can't happen if the internal vibe stays murky. If LeBron’s status is left in question, it muddies everything.
As Beck pointed out, not knowing “where LeBron’s head is at” creates doubt. And doubt is the last thing this team can afford in a loaded Western Conference.
If LeBron is able to embrace this shift with grace, the Lakers will not just contend in the wild west; they could thrive. That will depend on whether the king is ready to pass the torch, not reluctantly, but deliberately.