Following Luka Doncic’s contract extension this summer and LeBron James’ agent, Rich Paul, confirming that he is not going anywhere this summer, the Lakers are now getting ready for the upcoming season with their key pieces in place.
The Lakers are set to face the Warriors on opening night (October 21st, 2025) at home, and the basketball world is fired up to potentially see LeBron James face Stephen Curry for the last time on a season opener night.
Former Lakers player Patrick Beverley discussed this opening night fixture on the most recent episode of his podcast. His co-host, Adam Ferrone, asked him what he felt about LeBron James potentially retiring after this season.
“No, I ain’t gonna put that. I ain’t gonna put down on Bron. I ain’t gonna put down on Bron. But, you know, you never know,” said Beverley on whether he thinks either of the superstars will walk away from the game after this season.
“I don’t know. Sh** how that mot***f***er skinny Luka looking. Sh** if Luka could come in and make him do his mothe*****ing thing and win him a ton of games and Bron can be [himself], you feel me?
“You know, Bron doesn’t care about being the first option or whatever option, like Bron is going to be Bron. He’s gonna give your a** 25, six, and six. Bron go be Bron, right? His percentages might go up, might go down a little bit, but most of the time, Bron is going to get your a**. 25, six, and six, at 40 years old is absolutely wild to me.”
“But a lot of this s*** is on Luka. Yeah, Luka. Skinny Luka, he comes in being the Luca that we know, it’s going to be curtains. It’s going to be over with, right?”
Up to this point, Beverley is trying to say two things. He believes LeBron James will not retire just yet after this season. But keeping him with the Lakers next season is heavily dependent on how Luka Doncic performs in the coming season.
LeBron James’ representation has repeatedly emphasized that he wants to win a championship this season. If Luka Doncic and the Lakers can prove to LeBron James that they are genuine title contenders this season, then there remains a possibility that James stays with the Lakers next season.
Beverley then goes on to analyze the opening night fixture between the Lakers and the Warriors and explains why the Lakers are his pick for the game.
“They got DeAndre Ayton. Let’s not sleep on him. He plays really well, especially in the playoffs. Like, I played against DeAndre Ayton in the playoffs. He plays extremely well. You can’t forget about Austin Reaves.”
“And the sleeper of this whole pickup was Marcus Smart. Marcus Smart has something to prove. It’s different, right? You talk about Marcus Smart dealing with an injury. Yeah, he got Defensive Player of the Year. Is he the same player? Is he going to defend it like that?”
“Like, people don’t understand this past uh after the trade deadline this month and a half, Marcus Smart was playing some really good basketball with the Wizards. People don’t understand that.”
“And he has motivation, not motivation to to to to he has motivation to get a new contract. He has the motivation to get back to the Marcus Smart that people know he is. So, I think he’s gonna have a stunning year. Don’t sleep on the Lakers.”
Beverley now has full faith that the Lakers’ future is in solid hands with Luka Doncic and that they will win the opening night fixture against the Warriors. The Warriors and the Lakers have faced off twice on opening night before, when LeBron James was in LA. On both occasions, the Warriors won the game (2021 and 2022).
Do you think the Lakers will have as great a year as Beverley predicts? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section.
