LeBron James seems to be losing his prominent role with the Lakers.
According to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne and Brian Windhorst, general manager Rob Pelinka and manager JJ Reddick had dinner at the well-known Craig restaurant in West Hollywood just four days after the Lakers’ season wrapped up, but it was only Luka Doncic who attended.
He was joined by his agent, Lara Beth Seager, as well as his team’s coach and general manager to discuss strategies for building around him, especially considering the league’s new collective bargaining agreement.
Reports indicated that this meeting was a clear indication of Doncic being seen as the franchise’s future, with a swarm of paparazzi capturing the moment.
This gathering without James may reflect a shift in focus for the Lakers, and at 40 years old, he’s in his eighth season with the team after opting for a $52.6 million contract.
Since acquiring Doncic at the trade deadline in February, the Lakers have been open about their goal: securing a bright future with the 26-year-old.
Amidst all this, James feels a bit sidelined.
According to Shelburne and Windhorst, James is aware that the Lakers are pivoting towards younger talent. However, they also noted that the nuances of this transition sometimes fly under his radar.
Doncic never expressed a desire to join the Lakers, while James made the decision to come to LA in 2018 during a tough stretch for the team, which had missed the playoffs for five consecutive years—the worst slump since relocating from Minneapolis.
Since that dinner, there hasn’t been much progress in discussing James’ short extension, signaling a potential end to his reign as the face of the franchise.
When the Bass family sold their majority stake in the Lakers, Doncic was given a heads-up about it, but James was left in the dark.
The Lakers have made it clear that focusing on Doncic’s expansion, post-August 1st when he qualifies, is now their priority.
Meanwhile, James has returned to Ohio and made headlines on social media. He posted “Welcome Home” as he hinted at a return to the Cavaliers, along with quirky posts aimed at Lakers’ broadcaster Ally Clifton.
This shift in dynamics isn’t easy to navigate, but insiders close to James suggest that his situation isn’t a simple coincidence.
