LeBron James passes on the Lakers crown

LeBron James has led the Los Angeles Lakers project since arriving at Crypto.com Arena in the summer of 2018. From the outset, he’s been the undisputed King of the Purple and Gold, guiding the team to a championship in the 2020 NBA bubble. While that title has faced scrutiny in some corners of the league, it remains a hard-earned achievement.

It took six years for the Lakers to begin reshaping their future beyond LeBron. Fortunately for the franchise, that shift came with the arrival of Luka Dončić in a blockbuster trade with the Dallas Mavericks last season. Now, the Slovenian star is widely considered the new King of Los Angeles.

LeBron James embraces generational change

Since the Lakers were eliminated in the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves, the spotlight has been fixed squarely on Dončić. From his initial dinner with president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka and head coach JJ Redick, to signing a new three-year contract extension over the weekend, everything has revolved around the 26-year-old.

The Lakers are now fully focused on building a roster to maximize Dončić’s talent and chase new championships. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, LeBron has come to terms with this new direction and voiced his support for the franchise’s decision to hand over the reins.

The future Hall of Famer understands the importance of the transition. He’s entering his 23rd NBA season and will turn 41 in December – a reality that’s impossible to ignore. James knows his time in the league is nearing its end, and the franchise sees this as the right moment to pass the torch.

This summer, James exercised his player option to return to the Lakers, but all signs point to this being his final year in Los Angeles – regardless of whether he chooses to retire. For the first time in his career, the front office opted not to offer him an extension. One of the big questions heading into the season is what role LeBron will play in the locker room, especially when it comes to leadership.

What’s clear, though, is that LeBron James is as motivated as ever, and he’s got something to prove – that he’s still the King.

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