Paul Pierce believes the Los Angeles Lakers need to shift their focus to the future, and that future doesn’t include LeBron James. Following the Lakers’ early playoff exit at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Pierce made his stance clear: if the Lakers want to return to championship contention, they must move on from James and build around Luka Doncic.
On FS1’s Speak, Pierce stated, via Awful announcing, “If the Lakers want to get back to a championship contender moving forward, you have to get out of the constraints of the LeBron James era.”
He acknowledged James’ contributions to the Lakers but emphasized that it’s time to make a change. “He’s had a grasp of the whole organization for so long now,” Pierce said. “They’re probably gonna build a statue of LeBron. But I’m just saying, they have to say, ‘Bron, we appreciate your services, I think we should move on.’ It’s time for the Luka era now.”
Pierce’s comments come after a season where the Lakers struggled in the postseason despite a strong regular-season finish. Los Angeles had to face a tough reality after being eliminated in the first round by the Timberwolves. Despite their late-season push to secure the No. 3 seed in the competitive Western Conference, the Lakers couldn’t overcome Minnesota’s size and defense. Rudy Gobert’s 27 points and 24 rebounds dominated the Lakers’ small-ball approach, leaving the team to question its future direction.
Doncic, who joined the Lakers in a trade this season, was one of the few bright spots, finishing with 28 points and 9 assists in the decisive Game 5 loss.
James, who contributed 22 points and 6 assists, reflected on the disappointing playoff run, stating, “Every season that I did not make it to the Finals or did not win a championship has been a disappointment.”
Now, with the Lakers’ future in question, speculation about James’ next move intensifies. LeBron, who has a player option for the 2025-26 season, is unlikely to take a pay cut as he did last offseason. Reportedly, James is prioritizing maximizing his earnings over helping the team create cap space. While he’s been a driving force for the Lakers, sources suggest James could be considering a future with a different team, possibly in pursuit of his fifth championship.
James himself stated he will take time to evaluate his playing future, admitting, “I don’t know the answer to that right now.” As for his relationship with the Lakers, he praised rookie head coach JJ Redick, despite the team’s early playoff exit.
The Lakers, already under scrutiny for their roster construction, face the difficult challenge of navigating their future with Doncic now on the roster and James’ uncertain status. As the offseason begins, the pressure to make tough decisions looms large.
