Luka Doncic said LeBron James reached out to him after leaving Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers fully embraced Luka Doncic as their team and franchise earlier this summer after learning that LeBron James would not be re-signing with them as a free agent. While the Lakers had been gradually shifting away from being James-centric to focusing on Doncic since acquiring him in a stunning trade in February 2025, they were finally able to build around the Slovenian superstar on a full-time basis this summer.

Rumors circulated throughout the past year suggesting that James was unhappy about not being the main focus of the Lakers and potentially harbored some hard feelings towards Doncic. However, Doncic revealed that James reached out to him this summer following his decision to leave, expressing gratitude for their time together as teammates and acknowledging the invaluable lessons he learned.

When inquired about whether the Lakers had now become his team, Doncic remained nonchalant, emphasizing that the responsibility of leading the franchise to at least one NBA championship is an honor rather than a burden. Despite the perception that it would add extra pressure, Doncic sees it as a tremendous privilege to be the face of one of the world's most successful and iconic sports organizations.

With the Lakers roster not expected to be championship-caliber on paper, coach JJ Redick remains confident that the team can develop into a championship-level squad this season. Last season, Doncic averaged 33.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, 8.3 assists, and 1.6 steals per game, winning his second scoring title. He is in peak physical condition, just as he was the previous year, and is poised for another sensational campaign, regardless of whether the Lakers become legitimate contenders or not.