The Lakers would be lucky to re-signLeBron James.
Yes, he’s turning 42 next season. Yes, the Lakers’ focus needs to bebuilding around Luka Doncic. And yes, there are some tricky politics at play.
But the bottom line is James is still damn good.
He was the best player on the court in the Lakers’ first-round playoff series against the Rockets.In the second round, he had better stats than reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Just let that sink in for a moment.
This season, James proved he could be a star or a role player. He’s willing to carry the team or be its third option. He’s able to set aside his ego.
It’s weird that so many people are up in arms about the prospect of James returning tothe Lakers. He’s about to be an unrestricted free agent. And after eight seasons with the purple and gold, they’d be lucky to have him for a ninth.
When James came to the Lakers in 2018, they had fallen off the map, missing the playoffs six straight years. James resuscitated the franchise, recruiting Anthony Davis in 2019 and then carrying the team to its first championship in 10 years in 2020.
Five years later, the Lakers rocked the basketball world by acquiring Doncic in a stunning trade in February 2025. While playing alongside James, Doncic went from being out of shape to entering training camp this season in arguably the best physical condition of his career.
Do you think that was a coincidence?
Source: California Post – Breaking California News, Photos & Videos
