Lakers Gave Luka Doncic Heads-Up On Ownership Change, But Not LeBron James
The Los Angeles Lakers are entering a new era, and it's becoming more obvious by the day that LeBron James is no longer at the center of it. According to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne and Brian Windhorst, when the Buss family agreed to sell a majority stake in the team to billionaire investor Mark Walter on June 18, Luka Doncic was privately informed ahead of time. LeBron James, on the other hand, received no such courtesy—and made no public acknowledgment of the change.
Advertisement
"Since the Doncic trade Feb. 1, the Lakers have signaled this shift from James to Doncic through a series of microaggressions," reported ESPN. "When the Buss family agreed to sell a majority stake in the franchise to Mark Walter on June 18, Doncic was given a heads-up and notably posted a congratulations on social media afterward. James was not given the same notice and did not post any public acknowledgement afterward."
LeBron had been treated like royalty since his arrival in the summer of 2018. After leading the franchise to a championship two years later, his standing in the organization reached an all-time high, and they were doing everything they could to appease him. With Luka on board, however, LeBron's desires have come secondary, and they've been keeping him out of the loop.
"They did not give him significant notice that they were trading Davis for Doncic, a transgression James forgave, sources said, because of his respect for Doncic and understanding of the franchise's reasoning for making the trade and for keeping it under wraps for as long as possible," wrote ESPN.
At this point, there's no denying that the Lakers are Luka's team now. With averages of 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game last season, he's shown enough in his short time with the organization to earn their full commitment and dedication. The fact that he's surpassed LeBron James in the team hierarchy so quickly says a lot about his talent and how quickly things have changed for the organization.
Advertisement
For James, this entire ordeal is unfamiliar territory, and he's struggling to find the appropriate response. Between being phased out of the team's decision-making and the state of his expiring contract, it's a given that his time in Los Angeles will soon be coming to an end.
As a 4x champion, 4x MVP, and 22-year veteran, it's unheard of for a star of LeBron's caliber to be treated this way, and it makes sense why he has mentally checked out of the organization. For the first time in his career, uncertainty defines the path ahead for LeBron, but there are multiple teams who are still willing to give him the star treatment he feels he deserves.
Whether it ends with a trade or a quiet exit in free agency, LeBron's time with the Lakers feels like it's nearing its final act. The franchise has clearly chosen a new direction and a new face in Luka Doncic. And while the King may no longer be the priority in L.A., his legacy and value still hold weight across the league. If this is how things end, it won't be on LeBron's terms, but it might just spark the next chapter in one of the greatest careers the game has ever seen.
Related: Lakers Could Trade LeBron And Bronny James To Warriors In Bold Blockbuster Deal
This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jul 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
E&E News
a minute ago
- E&E News
Meeting AI power demand means more renewables, grid officials say
Ballooning power requests from data center developers requires more of the solar, wind, and storage battery investment that President Donald Trump opposes, grid and finance experts said Wednesday at a U.S. Energy Association webinar. The panel featured a cross-section of grid officials, consultants and financiers who stressed that a shock wave of new power demand from artificial intelligence is hitting an unprepared U.S. power system. Their prescription: Utilities need to add as much power to the grid as possible, from nuclear and gas to wind and solar. 'Electricity scarcity is upon us, and this is the new world for industrials, for data centers, for consumers, where electricity is not abundant and we need to manage sources of power,' said Jeff Weiss, executive chair of Distributed Sun, a solar power developer. 'We've never had this in America.' Advertisement Trump has been hostile to renewable energy — on Wednesday, for example, he called wind and solar power 'THE SCAM OF THE CENTURY!' — and Republicans are phasing out clean energy tax credits (see related link). Many analysts predict that solar growth, now booming, will slow dramatically by the end of the decade.
CNET
a minute ago
- CNET
This TCL Phone Outperforms Samsung's Budget Model and Is Now Even Cheaper at Just $200
These days, smartphones are all a bit samey. That's why when something different comes out, we can't help but pay attention. The TCL NxtPaper 60 XE is one of the most interesting smartphones we've reviewed recently with a full-color, paperlike display. In fact, it's a super impressive budget phone that in many ways outperforms the Samsung Galaxy A16 5G at a similar price. So you'll be pleased to hear that the TCL NxtPaper 60 XE is currently reduced. Right now, the smartphone is reduced from $250 to $222 on Amazon for Prime members. And if you use our exclusive promo code CNET10OF, you can bag an extra 10% off, bringing the total down to $200. But hurry, this code expires Aug. 27. This phone hits top marks for everyday use. Its screen is large, the 120Hz refresh rate is buttery smooth and the battery lasted CNET reviewer Tyler Graham throughout the entire day, even with frequent use. If you take a lot of selfies, you'll enjoy a big 32-megapixel upgrade to the front-facing camera, though the camera system is otherwise similar to TCL's 50 series phones. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. The shiny bonus features on the TCL NxtPaper 60 XE are the eponymous NxtPaper digital ink and e-reader modes and cloud-based TCL AI. You might not use these features regularly, but they're solid value adds to an already budget phone. The 60 XE is working off of a MediaTek Dimensity 6100 Plus processor with 8GB of memory. In his review, Graham said: "Compared to other phones in a similar price range, the TCL 60 XE NxtPaper 5G delivers where it counts for day-to-day use, and its impressive bells and whistles sweetened my experience with the phone." Why this deal matters The TCL NxtPaper 60 XE is one of the most interesting smartphones we've reviewed recently. It's definitely worth being on your radar if you're on the lookout for a new budget handset. Already at an inexpensive price, this deal makes it a no-brainer for those looking for something a little different. Just make sure you get your order in before Aug. 27 when the coupon expires.
Fast Company
a minute ago
- Fast Company
The ESPN app has landed: ‘We can't look at this launch as a movie opening'
On August 21, the self-described 'leading multi-platform sports entertainment brand' began allowing consumers to subscribe directly through a service called . . . ESPN. Unlike ESPN+, which launched in 2018, the new streaming service provides access to the network's full range of content and coverage.
