The Lakers were concerned that LeBron James might request a trade after the team completed the high-profile Anthony Davis-Luka Doncic deal, according to Jovan Buha of The Athletic.
During a discussion on “The Buha’s Block” podcast, the Lakers’ beat writer revealed that some within the organization were uncertain about James’ long-term future with the team.
“Right after the trade went down, there was a sense that LeBron didn’t know about it,” Buha explained on March 18. “Making such a significant trade without informing him beforehand, combined with his contract situation and the potential loss of influence at Klutch Sports due to A.D. being traded, led to concerns that LeBron might want out or at least consider the possibility.”
However, Buha noted that these concerns quickly dissipated within the first few days, as it became clear that James was committed to staying with the Lakers.
“From what I’ve heard, that initial fear was squashed within the first 24 hours, and it was obvious LeBron was going to stay with the Lakers,” Buha added.
James, who has a player option for the 2025-26 season, could become a free agent in the 2025 offseason. Despite this, all indications suggest that the NBA’s all-time leading scorer will finish his career in Los Angeles. James is reportedly close to head coach J.J. Redick and franchise owner Jeanie Buss, and he has a strong admiration for Doncic.
After the trade, James praised Doncic for how he handled the move and his adjustment to the new team.
“When you move on, or they move on from you, it’s emotional,” James said of the Doncic trade. “It’s mentally taxing, and there are probably a lot of things going through his mind that have nothing to do with the game. I thought he handled it tremendously.”
James made the right decision to stay in LA. Since Doncic joined the Lakers, the team has gone 14-6, with the third-best defense and the seventh-best net rating in the league. The chemistry between James and Doncic has been exceptional, with James comparing their connection to that of a quarterback and a wide receiver, with himself in the wide receiver role.
“I’m a natural-born wide receiver. He’s a natural-born quarterback,” James said on February 23. “I’ve been running the floor my whole life. He’s been making great passes his whole life. Getting into a rhythm is easy when it’s just about eye contact. He’s a great quarterback, and I’m the recipient.”
As of March 19, the Lakers (42-25) held the fourth seed in the tightly competitive Western Conference. Unlike the previous two seasons, the Lakers are likely to avoid the play-in tournament and secure a playoff spot directly.
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