Published on: Aug 02, 2025 01:34 pm IST
While there has been a lot of chatter about LeBron James exiting LA Lakers, he opted into his contract for this season. However, doubts about the future remain.
The Los Angeles Lakers’ drama surrounding veteran LeBron James and entrant Luka Doncic has been rife this offseason. With multiple reports suggesting the shift in power from James to Doncic, speculation about a tussle between the Lakers duo has been evident from the beginning, However, as per the claims of sources close to the team, the Slovenian guard would rather see the NBA icon stay and retire in gold and purple than being traded off to another team.
Luka Doncic wants LeBron James to stay
Doncic took the first step in crushing reports of his supposedly tense relationship with James by making his stance clear behind closed doors. He reportedly expects James to stay on and retire with the team and is actively recruiting around him to aid the same, as reported by the Dallas Hoops Journal.
“REPORT: Luka Doncic doesn’t want to push LeBron out of Los Angeles, and wants him to retire in LA,” an account wrote on social media.
Doncic was traded to the Lakers from the Dallas Mavericks back in 2020 in exchange for NBA champion Anthony Davis. Back-talk of James’s future at the team and the sport at large has been the highlight of this offseason. Adding to the doubts, James’s agent Rich Paul released a cryptic statement calling out the player’s desire to be in a championship-ready team. The NBA icon laid all such speculation to rest by opting into his contract for this season, although the future and concerns of his position in the team hang in the balance.
Fan reactions
Fans have taken to social media to express their views regarding Doncic’s thoughts.
“Better chance at a ring with bron no?” a fan wrote.
“Luka wants to waste another year of his career without winning I see,” said another.
“Then he don’t wanna win & that’s okay. He not winning with his style of play anyway,” an X user chipped in.
“I’m smelling ring 1 and ring 5 this year,” added another.
Yet another user said, “So all you Lakers fans who hate Bron what yall gonna say now? You wanna piss off the star player you’re banking on for the next 10 years?”.
Meanwhile, Doncic is expected to sign a contract extension with the Lakers this weekend.
– With inputs from Stuti Gupta
