As a 4x champion, 4x MVP, and 21x All-Star, LeBron James has already proven himself as one of the game’s all-time greatest players, and his status as a superstar is undeniable. At 40 years old, however, the situation is changing for James, and he now finds himself in a reduced role in the wake of the Luka Doncic trade that shifted the Lakers‘ balance of power.
“It’s definitely Luka’s team,” said Wilkins in a chat with Kyle Odegard of Esports Insider. “A 25-year-old guy compared to a guy who is 40. You should be willing to hand over those ranks to him. I don’t think that’s even a question. I think that’s what the plan is.”
Nobody knew the Lakers were on track to get Doncic at the time, but the news eventually broke after a week of negotiations between Rob Pelinka and Nico Harrison. Wilkins, like the rest of us, was shocked by the deal and believes his arrival in Los Angeles sets them on a path to contention for the next 10+ years.
“Like everybody across the world, I was shocked,” said Wilkins. “Luka, 25 years old and one of the top five or six players in the league. You trade a player like that? That’s a tough one to digest. Everybody was shocked, and maybe there was something there we don’t know. Who knows? But wherever he plays, they are going to be a team that has a chance.”
When the Lakers acquired Anthony Davis in 2018, they had plans for him to step up and slowly take the reins of leadership from LeBron. In several years together, however, Davis always played more of a sidekick role while King James ran the show both on the court and in the locker room.
Now, Luka Doncic will take on those responsibilities, and it means LeBron will have to adjust just like Dwyane Wade did during their days on the Heat. With averages of 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game this past season, LeBron saw a dip in his numbers across the board, and that trend will likely continue as Luka takes full control of the offense next season.
At 26 years old and in the prime of his career, Doncic is much more equipped to lead the Lakers daily, just like he led the Mavericks for the first seven years of his career before his shocking trade out of town. As an elite scorer and brilliant passer, Doncic is an ideal choice to run the offense, and his ability to deliver in the clutch makes him an easy choice late in games.
At this stage of his career, the best way LeBron can help his team is by maximizing his role as the secondary star and finding a way to make Doncic’s life easier, however, he can. It’s uncharted territory for King James, who has been the main attraction in each of his previous seasons.
Whether he likes it or not, the Lakers are Luka’s team now, and all of their planning and team building will revolve around maximizing his game. As someone who just wants to win another championship, LeBron has embraced this new reality, and he’s doing everything he can to perfect his new role as quickly as possible.
