Lakers’ Present Meets Future: LeBron Passes the Torch to Luka in Quiet but Powerful Gesture

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by Lou Reyes

LeBron James congratulates Luka Doncic in latest Lakers deal
Lakers superstars LeBron James (23) and Luka Dončić. Photo: AP

As confetti settles on the Lakers' boldest move in years—securing Luka Dončić on a three-year, $165 million contract extension—the franchise might have witnessed something more subtle but just as monumental: the symbolic passing of the torch.

LeBron James, the face of the Lakers since 2018 and the NBA’s elder statesman, wasn’t physically present at Dončić’s official signing press conference on Saturday. Nor did he join the team’s off-court bonding in Las Vegas later that night. But sources confirmed James made a video call to Dončić shortly after the deal was finalized—a personal congratulations from the King himself.

That simple act may have said more than any press release could.

Ever since the Lakers shocked the league by acquiring Dončić from Dallas in February in a blockbuster trade that sent Anthony Davis to the Mavericks, the chemistry between the 40-year-old James and the 26-year-old Slovenian star has been impossible to ignore. The Lakers surged to a 16-7 record with both players on the floor during the regular season, hinting at a seamless transition between eras.

“Luka has been my favorite player in the league for a while,” James admitted earlier this year—words rarely spoken by a player of his stature. That admiration has grown into a mentorship of sorts, as James carefully walks the line between being a teammate and eventually handing over the franchise reins.

LeBron James congratulates Luka Doncic in latest Lakers deal
Photo: Facebook.

The Lakers, too, appear to be balancing that same tightrope—honoring LeBron’s remaining years while building their future around Dončić. And while James has opted into the final year of his $52.6 million contract, his agent Rich Paul signaled openness to evaluating what’s “best for LeBron” as he nears the final chapters of his legendary career.

Lakers GM Rob Pelinka made it clear they’re following LeBron’s lead on that front. “If he had the chance to retire a Laker, that would be great,” Pelinka said. “But we want to respect his decision.”

In the meantime, Dončić has become more than just the Lakers’ future—he's their now. And James, ever the visionary, seems intent on ensuring that transition is as smooth as possible.

The King may not have said it outright, but with that quiet video call, a message rang loud and clear: The throne in L.A. is in good hands.