The Los Angeles Lakers have had a busy offseason, especially when it comes to managing their star duo of Luka Dončić and LeBron James. Over the summer, the Lakers secured Dončić with a contract extension, locking him in as the future face of the franchise. While the organization appears to be building around him with a long-term vision, Dončić has made it clear: he wants to win now.
“Dončić being just 26 gives the Lakers a far longer timeline to build a championship-contending team, but that doesn’t mean they can slow down and take their time. Dončić told Lakers president Rob Pelinka and coach JJ Redick in May that he’s not interested in taking the slow approach in building a contender,” CBS Sports’ Jasmyn Wimbish wrote.
Meanwhile, James finds himself in an unfamiliar position — for the first time in his career, he’s not in control of the team’s future. With the Lakers fully invested in Dončić, James’ role has become more uncertain, and that shift has made things uncomfortable.
“He’s still that good. I don’t think it’s his last year, but the fact that the Lakers did not discuss a 1-in-1, or a 2-in-1, or contracts beyond this year with him. They just let him sit back… that tells you a lot. It’s not in his control with LA,” ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne said.
James has made it clear he wants to win another NBA championship before retiring — but whether the Lakers’ current timeline aligns with that goal is unclear. While many wonder how much longer LeBron will play, one of his former teammates, Markieff Morris, believes he has a surprising amount left in the tank.
“What’s he right now 41, 42? He for sure can play until 46,” Morris said about James on the Million Dollaz Worth of Game podcast. “That’s for a fact, that’s factual. He’s 42 and he’s still having the best years of his career, at 42.”
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Five more years would be remarkable for any player — but for someone like James, it’s not out of the question. Still, whether or not he continues playing that long, this season could very well be his last in Los Angeles. His longevity has already redefined expectations, but playing until 46 would truly put him in a league of his own.
