The Los Angeles Lakers made it official over the weekend, Luka Doncic is their franchise cornerstone after signing a three-year, $165 million extension.
Whereas teammates confirmed as much as help the 26-year-old star at his press convention, LeBron James was notably absent.
That absence, mixed with the Lakers’ organizational pivot from James to Doncic, has fueled hypothesis about what’s subsequent for the 40-year-old.
Shams Charania reported that James continues to be on board with the course of the franchise regardless of the optics, talking on ESPN’s Get Up.
“The one factor I can say, although, is that he has been very supportive and really understanding of the place this Lakers group is headed, and that’s what Luka Doncic is the face [of the franchise],” Charania mentioned. “And I believe the Lakers, as properly, are equally as understanding that he needs to be in a scenario the place he feels comfy, and on the finish of the day, ending his profession on his personal phrases.”
Lakers basic supervisor Rob Pelinka echoed that message throughout Doncic’s press convention.
“So all of the interactions we’ve had with LeBron and his camp, Wealthy specifically, have been optimistic and supportive, so very skilled and Wealthy [Paul] has been nice,” Pelinka instructed reporters. “The dialogue with him has been open and fixed. In order that helps reply that query.”
Nonetheless, not everyone seems to be satisfied issues are working easily. Longtime NBA analyst Invoice Simmons known as the scenario “weird.”
“The entire thing is simply weird to look at,” Simmons mentioned on The Invoice Simmons Podcast,. “LeBron James has been in command of each scenario he’s ever been in, basketball-wise, who has at all times held the playing cards. That is the primary time ever the place that’s not the case.”
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