The Los Angeles Lakers are working through a period of transition, while also trying to put together a title-winning team.
After entering last season worrying how much longer LeBron James could continue, the LA Lakers now have a new future hope.
After Luka Doncic was traded to the team earlier in 2025, the Lakers’ timeline for success was immediately extended.
For 2025-26, LeBron James and Luka Doncic will play a full season together. But from 2026, only one player is locked in.
Luka Doncic signed a major contract extension earlier this month, and one of the big talking points was that LeBron James did not attend the presentation.
NBA expert Rachel Nichols believes that this was not a case of LeBron James having any kind of problem with Doncic, instead claiming that he is frustrated with the franchise.
She said: “I think it has more to do with his frustration with the Lakers. He believes he’s played at a level where he deserves an extension. He shouldn’t be an expiring contract.”
Nichols told Sports Illustrated that she believes LeBron James is worthy of a contract extension based on his performances, where he was still one of the NBA’s top players in 2024-25.
But he is also performing at an unprecedented level for a player of his age, and she notes that fears of a drop-off could be harmful, but the bigger issue is signing LeBron to a big extension could cost them the chance to sign a younger, dream partner for Doncic.
Two top stars could hit the market in 2027, Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo. And like the rest of the league, the LA Lakers do not want to rule themselves out, in case they become available.
A franchise like the Lakers will always be in the mix, and with Luka Doncic’s future now locked in, they are a very tempting destination.
Nichols explains: “Two things can be true. He has played at that level. However, also he would be 42 years old if the Lakers signed him to an extension, they don’t know what kind of shape, and I don’t mean physical shape, I mean basketball shape he’s going to be in at that point.
“And the truth is, as we just discussed, if one of these other big players comes available, and by the way, someone always does, we didn’t expect Luca Doncic to be available… they don’t want to be tied up with 42 year old LeBron when they could get, say, a Giannis or Jokic or someone else.
“LeBron probably does deserve an extension, and it’s true that the Lakers kind of can’t afford to give him one if they want to keep their cap open enough to sign a younger co-star for Luka going forward into the next five years, and it’s created a really uncomfortable situation.”
