Trouble is brewing in Los Angeles for the Lakers. After the blockbuster trade for Luka Doncic this past season, what seemed poised to become one of the best duos in NBA history might not even play a single playoff game together.
During the regular season, LeBron James and Doncic appeared to have a good relationship both on and off the court. But perhaps the Lakers’ front office played a big role in this relationship deteriorating.
Since LeGM (LeBron’s nickname, referencing his reported involvement in Lakers team decisions) arrived in L.A. in 2018, he has been the centerpiece of the organization, with the team’s front office consulting him before major trades.
According to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, the Lakers are “not consulting with LeBron this year,” which may signal there is a new top dog in L.A. and his name is clearly Luka Doncic.
Lakers’ broken locker room
That may not have sat well not only with LeBron but also with another star: Austin Reaves. The Lakers players had been used to being guided by one of the best players ever, and replacing him with a younger leader who hasn’t won a ring has caused havoc on the team.
“LeBron does not like playing with Luka, Reaves does not like playing with Luka. Reaves does not like getting the ball with two seconds left on the shot clock… The Lakers are going to turn their attention to building around Luka, not LeBron. So this is Luka’s team now,” according to John Gambadoro, host of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM Phoenix.
For now, LeBron has opted to exercise his $52.6 million player option and play another season with the Lakers. But a trade could be in the works, with the 40-year-old looking to win another championship before retiring.
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