Charles Barkley has never been one to mince words, and he didn’t hold back when asked about the Los Angeles Lakers’ current state. Speaking on the BetMGM Network with Kate Constable and Cam Smith, the Hall of Famer said what many have been whispering: the Lakers are no longer LeBron James’ team, and maybe it’s time for him to move on.
“LeBron is going to have to move on at some point. It is what it is. You know. Even though he’s been there, even though he’s been putting up good numbers, they haven’t been successful in probably four years. It’s already Luka’s team now. You don’t sign and trade for Luka Doncic, give him all that money, and it’s not his team.”
Since the Lakers’ 2020 championship run, their track record has been disappointing. Despite LeBron making All-NBA every season since, Los Angeles has only made it past the first round once.
They’ve shuffled through coaches, cycled role players, and continually struggled to find consistency. For Barkley, none of that is on James individually, but it still raises the question: what’s left for him in Los Angeles now that Luka Doncic is clearly the franchise’s future?
The Lakers shocked the NBA world by pulling off the blockbuster trade for Luka Doncic, instantly shifting the identity of the team. At 26, Doncic is just entering his prime, and the front office wasted no time committing to him long-term.
His arrival gave Los Angeles a new cornerstone, someone they can build around for the next decade.
That doesn’t mean LeBron is irrelevant. Even at 40 years old, he remains one of the most productive players in the league. But Barkley’s point is clear: the Lakers are no longer designed around him.
Complicating the conversation is LeBron’s salary. He will be the Lakers’ highest-paid player in 2025–26 at $52 million, a figure that makes him both an asset and a burden.
While he has shown a willingness to adapt, taking secondary roles alongside Anthony Davis in the past and now Doncic, some wonder if catering the regular season to a 40-year-old star is still worth it.
LeBron’s strength has been conserving energy during the grind of 82 games to unleash vintage performances in the playoffs. But with the West getting younger and faster, is his presence keeping the Lakers from fully embracing their future? Barkley thinks so.
While Barkley sees an inevitable split, Doncic and the Lakers front office view it differently. Doncic wants LeBron to retire with the Lakers, making it clear he values the chance to play alongside him for a few more years.
Lakers GM Rob Pelinka echoed that sentiment, stating he hopes James ends his career in purple and gold. That kind of backing from both the team’s new franchise cornerstone and its top executive suggests the Lakers are not eager to push LeBron out the door, no matter what the narrative outside may say.
For Barkley, the answer is simple: the Lakers belong to Luka now. And if LeBron wants another true shot at a championship, he may need to find it somewhere else.
