One of the NBA’s biggest question marks remains LeBron James’ immediate future. While the “King” shows no signs of retirement just yet, the arrival of Luka Doncic has ushered in a bold new direction for the Los Angeles Lakers. And NBA legend Charles Barkley says the reins now belong to the Slovenian phenom.
Since Doncic’s high-profile move from the Dallas Mavericks to L.A., the Lakers have found themselves with two superstar talents. But fans and insiders alike believe the franchise is gearing up for a post-LeBron transition, whether the 22-year veteran steps away or not.
The lack of contract extension talks – paired with the signings of veteran big man Deandre Ayton and rising prospect Jake LaRavia – has fueled speculation that the front office is fully rebuilding around Doncic. Barkley, for one, sees the writing on the wall.
Barkley: “It’s Luka’s team now”
In a recent interview with Jason Fitz of Yahoo Sports, Barkley didn’t mince words: “Well, [LeBron] is on the downside of his career. It’s Luka’s team going forward.”
Barkley praised the chemistry between the stars but emphasized Doncic’s ball-dominant style: “LeBron is such a great player; he can play without the ball. Luka has to have the ball to be successful, so that’s why it worked.”
Still, Barkley warned that the Lakers’ biggest challenges don’t lie within their own locker room: “They’ve got bigger problems than these guys. They’ve got to worry about the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Houston Rockets, and the Denver Nuggets.”
LeBron’s future in Limbo
Just weeks ago, James exercised his player option to stay with theLakers for another season. Yet, despite expectations of immediate renegotiations, reports suggest the Lakers aren’t planning to offer the four-time NBA champion a new deal.
As ESPN recently noted: “If he wanted the kind of Hollywood ending that only the Lakers can give legends of the game, the release date was set: Spring 2026. Luka Doncic in, LeBron James out.”
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