Luka Doncic has never hidden his admiration for LeBron James, and now as his teammate in Los Angeles, he believes the pairing can carry the Lakers back to championship contention. Appearing on Sports Central LA, Doncic was asked about the importance of playing alongside LeBron and whether keeping him around is crucial to their title hopes.
"Of course. I mean, he's one of the best basketball players ever. So just for having him there, you know, it's going to help all of us, not just me, but every player, all the staff, you know, is going to help us win because he knows what to do to win."
It’s clear that Doncic doesn’t see LeBron merely as a co-star, but as a guiding force who can elevate the entire franchise. The statement also comes as the Lakers try to settle persistent questions about LeBron’s future, with rumors swirling all offseason about whether he might consider leaving or even retiring.
Last season, Doncic’s first with the Lakers, didn’t go as planned. Despite the excitement of pairing him with LeBron, the roster was flawed and ultimately fell in the first round of the playoffs.
The Lakers’ lack of balance, particularly in the frontcourt, exposed their weaknesses against deeper teams in the Western Conference. The disappointment only fueled speculation about LeBron’s commitment, especially with his massive contract and the reality that he’s entering his 23rd season.
The front office responded to a decent extent this summer. Rob Pelinka prioritized locking in Doncic with an extension and restructuring the roster to better complement his game.
The Lakers brought in Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart, and Jake LaRavia, moves designed to maximize the Doncic-LeBron tandem. Yet even with these improvements, LeBron’s long-term future remained the cloud hanging over the franchise.
At one point, Rich Paul’s comments about LeBron’s desire for “win-now moves” sparked trade rumors. Reports linked him to other contenders, fueling speculation that LeBron could consider finishing his career elsewhere if he didn’t believe the Lakers could compete. Those rumors eventually cooled as both sides clarified that no trade requests were made, nor had any formal talks about a move taken place.
Still, Doncic’s comments matter because they reaffirm what the Lakers want: LeBron retiring in purple and gold. Luka has already said he wants LeBron to stay in Los Angeles until the end of his career, and his remarks echo the organization’s stance.
The Lakers envision their championship window being led by Doncic’s prime years, with LeBron still serving as a vital piece of that pursuit.
For LeBron, now 40, adapting into more of a secondary role may be key. He’s already shown he’s willing to defer in stretches, whether to Anthony Davis in previous years or Doncic now. But the combination of Luka’s brilliance as a playmaker and scorer, along with LeBron’s unmatched experience and leadership, could be enough to push the Lakers into serious title contention.
Doncic summed it up best: having LeBron isn’t just about name recognition. It’s about trust. And for a Lakers team desperate to add to its championship legacy, that may be exactly what they need.
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