The 2025 offseason has officially begun for the Los Angeles Lakers and all eyes are on the future. In the Lakers’ final press conference of the season, the contract situation with Luka Doncic was a frequent topic, but LeBron James denied any responsibility in the negotiations.
“No, that ain’t my job,” said James, via Dave McMenamin. “I think… I don’t think, I know, Luka knows how I feel about him. And ultimately, that trade happened for the future. That’s not for me.”
The Lakers have maintained their loyalty to LeBron, but the future of the franchise belongs to Luka Doncic, and that’s no secret within the organization. At 40 years old, after his 22nd season, LeBron James is in the final stage of his career, and he knows that his time is almost up.
At this point, James is only in it for the championships, and he’s not going to bother trying to play GM and convince Luka Doncic to stay. LeBron has done his best to accommodate Luka and ease his transition to the Lakers, but by the time his three-year, $136 million contract expires in 2027, LeBron will be long gone from NBA action.
Ultimately, the responsibility falls on Rob Pelinka and Jeanie Buss to secure Luka’s commitment, but it seems they’ve already made traction on that front. Since his arrival, Doncic has been beaming about the Lakers, and he’s looked like a natural fit. While he has yet to make a formal commitment, the Lakers feel confident that they can keep him on the roster for many years to come.
LeBron James Will Not Take A Pay Cut
The Lakers only have so much flexibility to fill out the roster, and Luka Doncic is the most important piece of all. He’s the future of the Lakers, but they’ll also have to build a roster that can complement his talents. With a $52.6 million player option for the 2025-26 campaign, LeBron can opt out and take a pay cut to help the team build their roster, but he currently has no plans to sacrifice his pay.
“If James returns to the Lakers, though, league sources say he’s not expected to consider the kind of pay cut that was in play around this time a year ago,” wrote The Athletic. “Last summer, James took a discount of approximately $2.7 million to help the Lakers stay under the second apron and maintain roster flexibility.”
LeBron has taken pay cuts in the past to help his teams maximize their roster, and it’s cost him millions. This summer, going into what could be his last season in the NBA, LeBron wants every penny he can get, and it’s hard to argue that he deserves anything less.
In 70 games for the 2024-25 campaign, LeBron averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game on 51.3% shooting. He was the team’s most consistent player and their leading voice in the locker room. He set the example for his teammates and never let himself get outworked.
To maintain his current pace, LeBron needs to focus entirely on the game, and that means playing free of any distractions. Whatever he decides this summer, LeBron is going to be playing to compete, and that means he expects the Lakers to do everything they can to accommodate his standards.
