This has been LeBron James's belated congratulations to Luka Doncic
The King has congratulated his colleague from the Los Angeles Lakers on his renewal with the Angelino team
Luka Doncic signed a three-year, $165 million contract extension with the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday, and his phone started ringing almost immediately after the ink had dried. On the other end of the video call was LeBron James, the face of the franchise for the past seven seasons, who wanted to personally congratulate the Slovenian on his new deal with the team. The call took place before Doncic participated in the press conference at the Lakers' training facility, sources confirmed to ESPN.
Although James did not attend the conference or the group trip to Las Vegas that several players took that same night to see the Backstreet Boys at the Sphere, his gesture affirms the support he has shown Doncic since the Lakers surprised the basketball world by acquiring him in February. From the outset, LeBron made it clear his admiration for the former Dallas player. "Luka has been my favorite player in the NBA for a while now," he said on February 4, shortly after the trade that sent Anthony Davis to the Mavericks.
The Doncic-James duo worked well in the final stretch of the regular season, with a record of 16 wins and 7 losses in the games they shared on the court. After the first-round elimination against Minnesota, when asked about Doncic's pending contract decision, LeBron expressed his desire for him to stay, albeit without pressuring him. "I hope, obviously, he stays long-term. The fans adore him here. L.A. has embraced him. We want him as a teammate and as a brother. But ultimately, he has to make the best decision for himself. At the end of the day, I won't be here much longer," he stated on April 30.
Although the relationship between the two players is one of mutual respect, James's future with the Lakers is not as clear. In June, he chose to exercise the final year of his contract, valued at $52.6 million, which will lead him to compete in his historic 23rd season in 2025-26. However, the statement issued by his agent Rich Paul, when announcing this decision, raised many questions about the final stretch of his career.
"LeBron wants to compete for a championship. He knows the Lakers are building for the future, he understands that, but he values a realistic chance to win. We deeply appreciate the partnership we have had over these eight years with Jeanie [Buss] and Rob [Pelinka], and consider the Lakers a fundamental part of his career," Paul stated on June 29. "We want to evaluate what is best for LeBron at this stage of his life and career. He wants each remaining season to count, and the Lakers understand that, support him, and want the best for him."
Asked on Saturday about Paul's comments, the Lakers' Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager, Rob Pelinka, asserted that the relationship between the team and LeBron's circle remains positive and fluid. "All interactions we have had with LeBron and his circle, especially with Rich, have been positive and supportive. The dialogue has been open and ongoing," Pelinka said.
Regarding James's future beyond the upcoming season, Pelinka emphasized that the team will follow the player's lead. "The most important thing is to respect the decision he and his family make about how long he wants to keep playing. We want to give him the necessary space to set his own timeline. But if he had the opportunity to retire as a Laker, it would be fantastic."
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Así ha sido la tardía felicitación de LeBron James a Luka Doncic
