Luka Doncic publicly acknowledged the impending departure of LeBron James from the Los Angeles Lakers with a heartfelt message on social media. On Tuesday, Doncic posted a photo of himself and James embracing, captioned, “An honor to play with and learn from you @kingjames,” shortly after news broke that James plans to leave the Lakers following the 2025-2026 NBA season.
According to James’ agent, Rich Paul, the Lakers were informed earlier this week that the forward intends to continue his career elsewhere next season, effectively ending the pairing of two NBA stars that began in February 2025. That partnership was initiated when the Lakers acquired Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks in a high-profile trade. However, injuries limited their time on the court together during the past season, preventing the duo from fully developing a consistent playing dynamic.
The Lakers’ front office has indicated that their focus will shift to assembling complementary pieces around Doncic as free agency opens on Tuesday, though they have yet to disclose specific target players. Meanwhile, James’ future destination remains uncertain, with Miami, Golden State, and Cleveland among the teams reportedly expressing interest in acquiring the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.
In response to the announcement, Lakers legend Magic Johnson took to social media to praise James and Paul. Johnson recalled their initial meeting in 2018, when he was Lakers president and helped facilitate James’ decision to join the team. He credited James with ushering in a new era for the franchise, highlighted by the 2020 NBA Championship and numerous personal milestones achieved while wearing a Lakers uniform. Johnson expressed gratitude for James’ contributions and wished him success in the next stage of his career, both on and off the court.
As James prepares to depart, the Lakers face pivotal decisions in reshaping their roster around Doncic, who has quickly become the team’s central figure following the blockbuster trade last season. The coming weeks will be critical for both James and the Lakers organization as they navigate this significant transition.