The Los Angeles Lakers are entering a new era, and it’s becoming more obvious by the day that LeBron James is no longer at the center of it. According to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne and Brian Windhorst, when the Buss family agreed to sell a majority stake in the team to billionaire investor Mark Walter on June 18, Luka Doncic was privately informed ahead of time. LeBron James, on the other hand, received no such courtesy—and made no public acknowledgment of the change.
“Since the Doncic trade Feb. 1, the Lakers have signaled this shift from James to Doncic through a series of microaggressions,” reported ESPN. “When the Buss family agreed to sell a majority stake in the franchise to Mark Walter on June 18, Doncic was given a heads-up and notably posted a congratulations on social media afterward. James was not given the same notice and did not post any public acknowledgement afterward.”
LeBron had been treated like royalty since his arrival in the summer of 2018. After leading the franchise to a championship two years later, his standing in the organization reached an all-time high, and they were doing everything they could to appease him. With Luka on board, however, LeBron’s desires have come secondary, and they’ve been keeping him out of the loop.
“They did not give him significant notice that they were trading Davis for Doncic, a transgression James forgave, sources said, because of his respect for Doncic and understanding of the franchise’s reasoning for making the trade and for keeping it under wraps for as long as possible,” wrote ESPN.
At this point, there’s no denying that the Lakers are Luka’s team now. With averages of 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game last season, he’s shown enough in his short time with the organization to earn their full commitment and dedication. The fact that he’s surpassed LeBron James in the team hierarchy so quickly says a lot about his talent and how quickly things have changed for the organization.
For James, this entire ordeal is unfamiliar territory, and he’s struggling to find the appropriate response. Between being phased out of the team’s decision-making and the state of his expiring contract, it’s a given that his time in Los Angeles will soon be coming to an end.
As a 4x champion, 4x MVP, and 22-year veteran, it’s unheard of for a star of LeBron’s caliber to be treated this way, and it makes sense why he has mentally checked out of the organization. For the first time in his career, uncertainty defines the path ahead for LeBron, but there are multiple teams who are still willing to give him the star treatment he feels he deserves.
Whether it ends with a trade or a quiet exit in free agency, LeBron’s time with the Lakers feels like it’s nearing its final act. The franchise has clearly chosen a new direction and a new face in Luka Doncic. And while the King may no longer be the priority in L.A., his legacy and value still hold weight across the league. If this is how things end, it won’t be on LeBron’s terms, but it might just spark the next chapter in one of the greatest careers the game has ever seen.
