NBA Analyst Believes Superstar Will Be LeBron James’ Lakers Successor

LeBron James remains the face of the Los Angeles Lakers but no matter how gracefully the four-time NBA Most Valuable Player ages, his inevitable exit from basketball as a player will come.

James will be turning 40 years old in December, so it’s a good time to wonder who will the Lakers sign to become the franchise’s next superstar. How about Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic?

According to Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer, the Slovenian superstar is being eyed by the Lakers to become LA’s leader in the future. “I’ve reported on this podcast and on The Ringer how they have their sights set for Luka [Doncic] in the future,” O’Connor said (h/t Maxwell Ogden of Lakeshow Life).

“We’ll see if that works out. Dallas just made a Finals. Dallas is looking better than ever with their supporting cast. That may not work out. But the Lakers, by not trading their future picks, clearly they’re still thinking long-term at this point.” That is not a welcome idea for the Mavericks and their fans.

At the same time, every team in the NBA would love to have Doncic on their squad, especially the Lakers, who have consistently struck out on superstar free agents over the past few years. Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic smiles during the fourth quarter against the Houston Rockets.

There is no way the Mavericks would let go of Doncic via a trade while he’s clearly at the height of his basketball powers. Doncic is a perennial NBA MVP contender and just finished third in the voting for that award during the 2023-24 season. All that being said, Doncic can be a free agent as early as 2026, as he only has a player option for the 2026-27 campaign. It is still two years away, but until Doncic and the Mavericks come up with a new extension deal, rumors will continue to swirl about his future in Dallas beyond the scope of his current contract. Related: Austin Reaves Reveals the ‘Best Thing’ About LeBron James as Lakers Teammate