LeBron James Congratulates Luka Dončić After Extension with the Lakers
In the midst of signing the three-year, $165 million contract extension, Luka Dončić received a special call. Lakers star player LeBron James reached out to congratulate him. The call, confirmed by sources close to the matter, occurred after the signing of the agreement and before Dončić’s press conference. Although James was not present at the conference or on the team’s trip to Las Vegas for a concert, the call reaffirms the support he has shown for Dončić since he arrived at the Lakers in February.The James-Dončić duo had a positive impact on the regular season, with a 16-7 record in the games they played together. When asked about Dončić’s decision after the defeat in the first round against the Minnesota Timberwolves, James expressed his wish that the player would stay, but respecting his decision.“Luka has been my favorite player in the NBA for a while,” James declared on February 4, after Anthony Davis’s trade to Dallas to acquire Dončić.
LeBron James
Despite James’ consistency in feelings towards Dončić, James’ situation with the Lakers is not so clear. James opted for the final year of his contract, valued at $52.6 million, for the 2025-26 season. However, his agent, Rich Paul, opened the door to speculation about the player’s future.“I obviously hope he stays long-term. Lakers fans love him here. L.A. has embraced him. We love him as a teammate, as a brother. But ultimately, he has to make a decision for himself. I won’t be here much longer,” James said on April 30.
LeBron James
Rob Pelinka, Lakers’ president of basketball operations, stated that the relationship between the team and James’ camp is positive and supportive. Pelinka added that the team will respect James’ decision regarding his future in basketball.“LeBron wants to compete for a championship. He knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic opportunity to win it all. We greatly appreciate the partnership we’ve had for eight years with Jeanie [Buss] and Rob [Pelinka] and consider the Lakers a critical part of his career. We understand the difficulty of winning now while preparing for the future. We want to evaluate what’s best for LeBron at this stage of his life and career. He wants every season he has left to count, and the Lakers understand, support him, and want the best for him,” Paul stated.
Rich Paul
Marc Stein was the first to report on James’ efforts to contact Dončić.“I think the most important thing we have to do is respect his decision and that of his family in terms of how long he’s going to play. We want to respect his ability to decide his own schedule. I think that’s really important. But if he had the opportunity to retire as a Laker, that would be great,” concluded Pelinka.
Rob Pelinka
