LeBron sends words of warning to Lakers

For the Lakers’ long-awaited season, one storyline towers above the rest: the pairing of Luka Dončić and LeBron James. This summer made it clear — Dončić is the new face of the franchise. He has stepped seamlessly into the same dominant role he held with the Mavericks, only now on a bigger stage.

LeBron, by contrast, has taken a step back. He’s been on vacation, detached from front-office maneuvering, roster decisions, and the trade chatter he once had so much influence over. For the first time since his NBA debut in 2003, James is not the uncontested leader of his team — a dramatic shift as his career winds down.

The lingering question is not whether he’ll keep playing, but for how long. The Lakers no longer view him as a cornerstone for the future but as a present-tense figure, a player to maximize now rather than plan around long term. His decision to pick up his $52.7 million player option became a flashpoint. James reportedly wanted to negotiate a longer extension despite recognizing his career’s twilight.

The team, however, saw only short-term commitment and a looming need for a pay cut. Their visions don’t quite align. Still, this is the 23rd season for one of basketball’s greatest, an achievement that will see him play into his 40s — territory reserved for legends like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, whom LeBron already passed as the league’s all-time leading scorer.

Meanwhile, the Lakers are consulting Dončić about roster building — not James. The Slovenian star spent the summer playing at EuroBasket, reaching the quarterfinals, and returning home to prepare intensively. He now enters the season in perhaps his best shape yet. From here, there can be only one leader, and it’s Luka.

LeBron addressed all of this at the team’s opening press conference. Asked if Dončić factored into his retirement plans, he was blunt: “Zero.” Playing alongside him is motivating, James said, but decisions about the end of his career will be made privately, with his family. His son Bronny remains on the roster, but LeBron made it clear he won’t hold out for Bryce, the younger son, to join the league: “He has his time, I have mine.”

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On the court, the dynamic between James and Dončić will hinge on how they share the ball. Possession distribution will be a test of chemistry, something JJ Redick — freshly re-signed — will help orchestrate in preseason. Off the court, LeBron’s focus is simple: rest. Last year he wore down early after pushing himself too hard in training camp. This time, his camp insists, caution will guide his workload. As ESPN’s Dave McMenamin noted, the Lakers need LeBron at full strength in May and June if they want any shot at another championship run.

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