The Los Angeles Lakers haven't outright said it, but the moves they have made thus far have led several fans and media members alike to suggest the franchise has turned the page from LeBron James to Luka Doncic despite the all-time great forward still being on the roster.
Given LeBron's age, this was something that was bound to happen sooner rather than later. To see it occur this drastically couldn't have been expected, though. James and his camp are as good as any in sports when it comes to controlling the narrative. So, it is typically worth paying close attention to whenever news concerning his future is reported.
Should the 2025-26 campaign be James' final run with the Purple and Gold, one veteran starter has the most on the line when it comes to his play this season.
Austin Reaves Has Most to Lose if LeBron Leaves Lakers After This Season
Longtime NBA insider Marc Stein reported on Saturday that his intel has led him to believe that if James plays beyond this coming season, it will be in a different city.
"I expect him to retire in a uniform that isn’t purple and gold," Stein wrote in his latest Substack release. "It’s pretty clear at this juncture that the Lakers have launched the Luka Dončić Era. It certainly appears as though they are approaching the 2025-26 season as LeBron’s last in Tinseltown. If James doesn’t want retirement forced upon him, as one suspects, that almost certainly means he would have to find a new team next summer."
This is a dramatic shift from what many had thought would ultimately be LeBron retiring as a member of the Lakers. If this is his final season in Hollywood, and the team is set for Doncic to be the next face of the franchise, Austin Reaves better have the best showing of his professional career if he wants to be part of that group being led by Doncic.
There have been plenty of questions about whether Reaves is even the right fit as a third option next to James and Doncic, so it isn't a ringing endorsement for him to be the team's No. 2 option. Given his contract situation, Reaves has no room for a step back in his play in any aspect of the game. If he does show that, Los Angeles will move on from him in an instant to find a better partner for Doncic on the perimeter.
One has to wonder if this news would have changed his decision-making process regarding the $89 million extension he turned down earlier this summer. Hindsight is always 20/20, but having that much guaranteed to you would have fundamentally changed the scenario he is staring down.
This is the reality of life in the NBA when you are a player on a roster like the Lakers. You could be the talk of the town one day and shipped out the door just as quickly. Now, Reaves is playing for his future in Los Angeles.