LeBron James’ future is one of the hottest storylines of the NBA offseason. While the Lakers are guaranteed at least one more season with the “King,” his lack of a long-term deal has raised concern among fans. But one analyst insists those fears may be overblown.
Recent developments have fueled speculation about a possible split. James exercised his player option to stay with the Lakers, but his agent, Rich Paul, recently admitted they are still “evaluating his options” for the future.
Meanwhile, the franchise has pivoted toward building around its newest superstar, Luka Doncic. With offseason signings like Marcus Smart and Deandre Ayton, many see a team increasingly tailored to Doncic, leaving James in the background.
Still, Andy Kamenetzky, co-host of the Locked On Lakers podcast, doesn’t believe LeBron is ready to walk away.
LeBron doesn’t want to leave L.A.
“LeBron clearly doesn’t want to leave L.A.,” Kamenetzky said in a recent episode of the LakeShow podcast. He pointed out that James has had multiple opportunities to leave the Lakers in the past-but hasn’t. Instead, what looks like tension is, in his view, more about reputations than reality.
“The Lakers, if we’re being honest, are always something of a dramatic team,” Kamenetzky explained. “This is a franchise that is always connected to some degree of drama, if for no other reason than that everyone’s always paying attention to them.”
As for James, the analyst noted, “LeBron is somebody who has always commanded-and frankly demanded-a lot of attention.” Combine those two elements, Kamenetzky said, and “it’s understandable that LeBron isn’t completely at peace with his relationship with the Lakers right now.”
The Lakers are still LeBron’s best path to a ring
Looking ahead, Kamenetzky argued that with retirement looming, James remains focused on championships-and the Lakers still give him the best chance.
“At the end of the day, there’s really nowhere for LeBron to go easily that’s better than where he is now,” he said.
Kamenetzky pointed out that Los Angeles won 50 games last season, even if it fell in the first round of the playoffs. That makes 2025-26 a pivotal year for the King’s future.
“If things go sideways this season, could I see LeBron asking out? Sure,”Kamenetzky admitted. But only time will tell.
Read the full article here
