LeBron James is showing full support as the Los Angeles Lakers begin pivoting toward a long-term future built around Luka Doncic.
According to NBA insider Shams Charania, James has been “supportive and understanding” of the organization’s transition, even as it reshapes the team around its new franchise centerpiece.
“He’s opted in, so technically he’s a Laker,” Charania said on First Take, noting that James is committed for Year 23 but may evaluate his path beyond the 2025–26 season.
The Lakers secured Doncic with a three-year, $165 million max extension that includes a player option for 2028, positioning the 26-year-old as the face of the franchise moving forward.
James personally FaceTimed Doncic to congratulate him on the extension, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line, signaling mutual respect despite a generational handoff underway in Los Angeles.
James and his son, Bronny, were absent from the Lakers’ official press conference announcing Doncic’s extension, but the FaceTime call reaffirmed the veteran’s continued influence behind the scenes.
Charania emphasized that the Lakers expect James to determine his retirement on his own timeline, saying, “He wants to end his career on his own terms and I think he’s earned the right to do that.”
While Doncic is now central to the team’s identity, James remains under contract and is expected to be a stabilizing force in the locker room as the roster transitions.
Doncic, who joined the Lakers via trade earlier this year, quickly committed to helping shape the roster. He played an active role in recruiting Marcus Smart and Deandre Ayton during free agency.
The contract’s structure also preserves flexibility, setting Doncic up for a potential five-year, $417 million supermax in 2028 if he remains eligible.
