ESPN Insider Shares Major LeBron James-Luka Doncic Revelation Amid Trade Rumors originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The Los Angeles Lakers might be pivoting toward a new era.

LeBron James didn’t sign a long-term deal with the organization, and with all the trade rumors and speculation, Rob Pelinka and Co. might be gearing up to lose him and build the future around Luka Doncic.

Of course, James’ potential desire to leave Los Angeles is a major surprise, given that teaming up with Doncic looked like a perfect move to chase another ring while also prolonging his career.

However, contrary to the rumors, Brian Windhorst of ESPN revealed that the Lakers didn’t think of James when they traded for Doncic. They didn’t even keep him on the loop:

“I know that everybody thought that LeBron was in on that. And I know I said at the time I didn’t believe that. LeBron was not in on it,” Windhorst revealed. “I don’t know what to tell you. He was not in on it. He wasn’t against it, you know? I think he was shocked that they traded Anthony Davis. But LeBron was not in part of that decision process.”

Windhorst added that while James has a long history of using his leverage to get deals done, the Lakers’ decision to trade for Doncic might be the beginning of the end of their relationship: 

“I know that there are people who believe that he’s a general manager and you can’t talk them out of it, so I will not try. But that was a move that was away from LeBron as the center of the team,” Windhorst said.

Windhorst says that the Lakers and LeBron are starting to move apart from one another, and what seemed to be a promising partnership might now be just a transition into a new era.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 3, 2025, where it first appeared.