Well, folks, it seems the rumour mill can finally take a breather, at least for a bit. Despite all the whispers and frantic speculation that’s been swirling around the NBA, it looks like LeBron James is actually going to do what he said he would: report to the Los Angeles Lakers’ training camp this autumn. The Athletic, a pretty reliable source, has thrown cold water on all those trade and buyout talks, reporting that neither the Lakers nor LeBron have even bothered to engage in such discussions. And apparently, there haven’t been “any signs” that the King himself wants out. How about that?
He did, after all, pick up his $52.6 million option last month to return for an eighth season in purple and gold. An absolute mountain of money, but then again, he is LeBron. However, here’s where it gets interesting and perhaps a little bit sad, depending on how you view his legacy. For the first time in his illustrious, record breaking career, LeBron James is expected to be the second option on this Lakers team.
That’s right. The undisputed King, the NBA’s all time leading scorer, will reportedly be playing second fiddle to Luka Dončić, who arrived in a “stunning trade” from the Dallas Mavericks back in February. Dončić is now slated to be the “centrepiece” for Los Angeles. It makes you wonder, doesn’t it? After all the years of carrying teams, of being the undisputed leader, how will the soon to be 41 year old adapt to a supporting role? It’s a new chapter, certainly, but is it one he genuinely wanted to write?
The initial buzz about a potential move was apparently fuelled by a rather cryptic statement from LeBron’s longtime agent, Rich Paul, who last month mused, “We do want to evaluate what’s best for LeBron at this stage in his life and career.” A perfectly reasonable thing to say, perhaps, but when it’s LeBron James, every syllable is dissected and every possible trade scenario is drawn up.
Of course, actually trading LeBron and his colossal salary would be a nightmare. NBA rules mean trades have to involve players with similar contract values, and let’s face it, there aren’t many players pulling in $50 million plus who the Lakers would actually want, especially if they come with multi year commitments. The Lakers, it seems, are quite content to let that massive $52.6 million player option simply expire at the end of the upcoming season, giving them ultimate flexibility.
So, here we are. LeBron, at 40 years old, is entering his record setting 23rd NBA season. He’s just 50 games shy of breaking Robert Parish’s record for most regular-season games played. Last season, he still put up incredible numbers: 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists in 70 games, even finishing sixth in MVP voting. He’s a 21 time All Star, four time league MVP, and four time NBA champion. The man has scored over 42,000 regular season points. He’s an undisputed legend.
But now, he’s a legend playing alongside another, younger superstar. This upcoming season will be fascinating to watch. Will LeBron truly embrace being the second option, or will the competitive fire that has driven him for two decades push him to reclaim his throne? It just goes to show, even the Kings eventually have to adapt.
Do you think LeBron can truly thrive as a second option, or is he simply too much of a natural leader to take a backseat?
