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Lakers Focus Offseason on Championship Push with James and Dončić

LeBron James is expected to return next season as the Lakers build around his partnership with Luka Dončić.

LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates after scoring during the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on November 25, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio.
Apr 30, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) reacts during the second half in game five of first round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images/File Photo
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Los Angeles Lakers guards Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves during a game against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center.

Overview

  • Los Angeles aims to bolster its roster after a first-round playoff exit that capped the inaugural James-Dončić pairing.
  • Front office sources say Austin Reaves is unlikely to be moved unless the team receives an “impossibly good offer,” preserving him as a key third scoring option.
  • Luka Dončić has embraced life in Los Angeles, praising the nearby ocean while noting its heavy traffic as his only gripe.
  • The Lakers announced four preseason games starting October 3, highlighted by an October 15 rematch against Dončić’s former Mavericks in Las Vegas.
  • If he returns, LeBron James will become the first NBA player to compete in 23 seasons, increasing the urgency to assemble championship support around him and Dončić.