Luka Dončić's Manager Reveals How Doncic Really Feels About Playing With LeBron James on Los Angeles Lakers

Luka Dončić's manager, Lara Beth Seager, disclosed to ESPN that Dončić holds immense respect for LeBron James, describing him as loving the experience of playing alongside the NBA's all-time leading scorer and considering it an honor to be his teammate, while learning significantly from him.

During the previous season, the Los Angeles Lakers posted a 15-8 record when both Dončić and James were active, securing the third seed in the Western Conference. However, they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves in a five-game series.

Dončić is slated to earn $45.9 million next season and becomes eligible to sign a four-year, $229 million extension with the Lakers starting August 2. Alternatively, he could opt for a shorter extension to reach 10 years of service by 2028, positioning himself for a larger five-year maximum contract at 35% of the salary cap to maximize future earnings.

James will make $52.6 million in the final year of his contract, but the Lakers have not offered an extension to the 40-year-old icon, aiming to conserve salary cap space to build around the 26-year-old Dončić. This has created tension, with some NBA insiders speculating that James might request a trade this offseason for the first time in his career due to misalignment with the team.

While Dončić is confirmed to remain with the Lakers next season, James' return is uncertain. NBA insider Shams Charania highlighted a potential conflict, noting the Lakers' futuristic focus on Dončić may clash with James' immediate championship ambitions, which could lead to challenging discussions in the next two months to resolve their differing priorities.