Not so long ago, everything still revolved around LeBron James. But today, at the Lakers, the hierarchy has changed. With Luka Doncic as an assumed franchise player and Austin Reaves as a luxury lieutenant, LeBron – 41 years old, 23rd season – slides into third offensive option. A welcome transformation for the Lakers as for him, and which poses a real question: does the door remain open to Los Angeles next season?
LeBron James has already had a thousand lives in his NBA career. From the rookie who alone carries his franchise to the veteran MVP of the Finals, including the monster of the Big Three and the hero of 2016, everything is ticked off. Perhaps the least expected role is that of “role player” at the end of his career. Ironic, almost insolent, when the guy is still so strong (21 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists per game) that he is capable of being the first offensive option for half of the franchises in the League.
But in these Lakers, his role is redefined. He plays for the team and according to its needs. And coach JJ Redick clearly assumed it:
“The best thing for our team is that he is the third most used player”
« The best thing for our team is him being the 3rd highest used player »
– JJ Redick on LeBron James pic.twitter.com/zJxCSYyxgb
— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) March 18, 2026
But be careful not to confuse this new costume with that of a “reduced role”. LeBron doesn’t necessarily do less, he mostly does things differently. He touches the ball less, dribbles less, creates less in isolation. On the other hand, he is everywhere else: screen setter, circle martyr in transition, decisive passer… in short, he constantly adapts to what Doncic and Reaves can create.
0 points at the break against the Pistons: the perfect example
Yesterday’s match against the Pistons (despite the defeat) symbolizes this evolution… perhaps even a little too much. LeBron finished with 12 points, 9 rebounds and 10 assists, but above all with a very special match: zero points at halftime (third time in his career, first in 15 years).
At first glance, we could say that he screwed up his first half and that he sent an old 0/8 to the shoot. But no, rather than forcing it, he embraced his new role completely. He let the game come to him, favored ball circulation, and punished defenses by reading rather than scoring. In any case, this is how he summed up his match:
“That’s the role I play for the team. For us to win matches, that’s the role I have to play. And that’s how we had to play in this match. »
LeBron James on how he finds his rhythm within a game without scoring: « It’s the role that I’m playing for the ballclub. In order for us to win ball games, it’s the role that I’m playing. And that’s just how the game was going. » pic.twitter.com/w4mVhy5I4y
— Khobi Price (@khobi_price) March 24, 2026
JJ Redick, satisfied with his player, also insisted on this collective dimension:
“I think he played very unselfishly. He finished with 10 assists […] We called systems for him and he did a really good job of not just looking to score, but making the right decision like he always does. »
LeBron’s basketball IQ and ability to adapt is exactly what explains his indecent longevity. Even his most notable actions this season go in this direction, like this dive to the ground to recover a ball against Denver, which Redick himself had “ never seen before in LeBron’s 23-year career”.
“I told him after the game, in 23 years of watching you play in the NBA, and the three years I watched you play in high school, I never saw you make a full-out extension dive like that. »
Coach JJ Redick on LeBron’s incredible hustle play with under one minute to go in regulation… pic.twitter.com/Y7u1tJLScp
— NBA (@NBA) March 15, 2026
It is now “winning plays” that define his impact, more than his raw statistics (even if the grandfather still comes out of a 30-pawn match against the Rockets at 13/14 shooting, a triple-double against the Heat and a near triple-double just yesterday).
This is why we must keep in mind that, despite all these developments, LBJ will never be confined to a “simple” role player status. There remains LeBron James, and we are not safe from seeing him score 35 points in the Playoffs if necessary…
The rest: sacrifice or last move?
The question of the future of LeBron James is becoming central (even if it has been the case for a while), and this new role opens up several scenarios.
First, that of a financial sacrifice. According to Ramona Shelburne (insider for ESPN), one more season at the Lakers is not a case to be ruled out given the new balance found with LeBron… but under certain conditions.
Ramona:
« The sense I have is that this idea of playing for $50M anywhere is probably gone but if (Lebron) is willing to play for less, if that fits with what (the Lakers) are trying to do, I think that door is open » pic.twitter.com/ePVU76wKQo
— Oh No He Didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) March 23, 2026
“The feeling I have is that the idea of playing for $50 million (his current salary, editor’s note), no matter where, is probably over. But if LeBron is willing to play for less, and that fits with what the Lakers want to put in place, then I think that door remains open. »
In a context where Austin Reaves is a priority for the Lakers and should decline his player option at 15 million (lol) to obtain a nice contract, financial balance becomes a major issue. Especially since the Lakers could try to recruit Giannis Antetokounmpo or another star this summer.
In this case, LeBron – a free agent in a few months – will have to accept a much lower salary to stay in Los Angeles. He would then continue in this hybrid and transmission role, accepting to no longer be the center of the project. An evolution all the more credible as the current dynamic is working, with a series of victories (12 out of the last 14 matches) and an attack in full explosion.
Nevertheless, there remains the very credible hypothesis of a departure. Until recently, his difficulties and the idea that “the team is better without him” suggested an inevitable divorce. The idea of a final return to Cleveland or an association with a big name in another franchise (hello Steph, hello Warriors) had particularly gained weight in the “rumors” category. These are scenarios that remain current, LeBron still being silent on his future intentions. But the Lakers option suddenly seems to be back on the table.
So, what will LeBron James’ last move be?
Text sources: Sam Amick, Darius Soriano and Sam Quinn
