In Los Angeles, news of LeBron James’ departure is sending shockwaves through the city as fans scramble to figure out what it means for the future. Without James for the first time in eight years, this summer begins a new era for the Lakers, one shrouded in major uncertainty.
At the center of it all is star point guard Luka Doncic, who has been anticipating this offseason since his arrival in 2025. While he knew there was a chance LeBron could leave this summer, it’s another thing to hear confirmation that he won’t be coming back. In response, Doncic delivered a short and simple message to his now-former Lakers teammate.
“An honor to play with and learn from you,” wrote Doncic on his Instagram story.
Luka Doncic’s reaction to LeBron James moving on: “An honor to play with and learn from you” pic.twitter.com/CleXLdscC9
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) June 30, 2026
Doncic and James didn’t play together for very long (72 regular-season games total), but they made it work in what limited time they had. Together, they led the Lakers to two straight 50-win seasons, and might have made a deep playoff run this year if not for injuries. Off the court, while the two never connected as LeBron and Anthony Davis did, they still came to respect each other.
For Doncic, though he may never get the chance to play with LeBron again, it was a major opportunity. He learned from one of the best players ever during his critical transition period, lessons that he will likely remember for life. But now, with nothing holding the Lakers back, they can put their entire focus on building around Doncic (skirting any responsibilities of a retirement tour).
Of course, Luka wasn’t the only NBA figure to make a statement on the end of LeBron’s Lakers tenure. Former team President Magic Johnson also spoke up, posting a heartfelt message on X to thank LeBron for his service.
“I want to thank LeBron James and his super agent Rich Paul for taking a meeting with me back in 2018 when I was President of the Lakers and deciding to sign with us,” wrote Magic. “He created a whole new era for the Lakers, including leading us to an NBA Championship in 2020 and all the milestones he surpassed in a Lakers jersey. I’ll always love and be grateful for him and wish him all the best in the next phase of his life, on and off the court!”
It was Magic who initially signed LeBron in 2018, and he played a major role in the King’s decision that summer. Besides his status as a Lakers legend (five-time champion, three-time MVP, 12x All-Star), Johnson is widely respected and revered for his basketball IQ and understanding of the game. So, although he was long gone before LeBron’s departure, he knows how big this moment is.
Even at 41 years old, LeBron is stealing the show this NBA offseason, and nothing will be the same. For the Lakers, it’s the end of a glorious era, but also the start of a brand new one with Doncic at the helm. What happens next depends on who they add over the next few hours, but losing LeBron has only upped the urgency for a team in win-now mode.
