ESPN Asks: Will This Be LeBron James' Last Season With the Lakers?

ESPN analysts got together to answer some of the biggest questions facing each team this season. When asked to figure out what the Los Angeles Lakers need to answer for the “NBA 2025-26 preseason: Biggest question for all 30 teams”, Dave McMenamin had this to say about the Lakers. 

“Will this be LeBron James' last season with the Lakers?

The Lakers went 15-8 with both James and Luka Doncic on the court together to close out the regular season. While their timely team-up secured L.A. the No. 3 seed down the stretch, James and Doncic were bounced by Minnesota in five games during the first round. With the West projecting even stronger conference competition than last season, will the Lakers' all-world tandem and supporting cast be able to keep L.A. near the top of the standings in what could be one of James' last go-rounds? And if they aren't winning, will James be content to finish out the season in L.A.?”

While the answer to this question will likely be determined by LeBron James, there is a world where James wants to continue to play for the Lakers, but the Lakers aren’t interested. 

There is definitely a little bit of fraying in the relationship between James and the Lakers. When they decided to trade for Luka Doncic, they signaled that James was no longer the star of the team and decisions would be made with Luka in mind moving forward. 

While they were fairly successful last season together, if Luka and LeBron don’t prove themselves to be a dynamic duo this season, LeBron could be gone. The Lakers don’t want to pay a bunch of money for a 40+ year old who doesn’t fit with their star. If LeBron James can’t fit the role that the Lakers and Luka need from him this season, he will be gone next year.