“At some point in time, it’s somebody’s turn” – Stephen A. doesn’t think LeBron should feel disrespected with the Lakers building around Luka originally appeared on Basketball Network.
LeBron James‘ fans are complaining that the four-time NBA champion has been slighted by the Los Angeles Lakers, citing the way the team has added pieces around Luka Doncic this season.
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According to reports, Doncic played a key role in recruiting Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart. Meanwhile, James has been busy traveling with his family or playing golf with Bronny, and it does not appear that he is involved, or at least consulted, with the player moves the Lakers made this offseason.
However, according to one of James’ top critics, Stephen A. Smith, there are at least a couple of reasons why LeBron should not be offended by being left out of the Lakers loop this summer.
“They got new blood. A cat that’s going to be the face of the franchise for the next decade, where he’s contemplating walking away from the game in the next year or two. Last time I checked, that’s business. Secondly, it’s pretty hard to be insulted when you’re being paid $52 million for one year’s work. So you need to get over that. Don’t get me wrong, he deserves more. If it was allowed, he could get more with the CBA and all of that stuff. He should get more, cuz what he means to the NBA from a box office perspective is undeniable. So, I’m not throwing any shade in that regard. I’m just simply saying, you’re still getting $52 million,” explained Smith on “Gil’s Arena.”
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LeBron has 52 million reasons not to feel slighted
Since winning the 2020 NBA title for the Lake Show, LeBron has extended his contract with the Lakers via a “1+1” deal, meaning he signed for one year plus a player contract. James did that in 2020, 2022, and last summer. This offseason, the Purple & Gold were reportedly comfortable with him playing on an expiring deal and did not offer him another extension. That’s the reason why he opted in to his $52.5 million player option for the 2025-26 season.
However, just because LBJ wasn’t offered a new deal doesn’t mean he has to feel slighted. As SAS said, he has 52 million reasons not to. Also, Smith argued that since winning the title in the bubble, the Lakers have granted all of James’ wishes. He wanted to play with Russell Westbrook, but they gave him Russ and traded key players just to do so. Bron wanted JJ Redick as coach; the Lakers hired his podcast co-host. But now that the franchise has Luka, it’s a different story.
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“At some point in time, it’s somebody else’s turn,” Smith added. “And so because it’s Luka’s turn, you could be playing with others, but you’re playing with that brother who is a global iconic brand who is good in terms of his numbers even in the postseason. It’s like him and Jordan only, what he does. And so when you look at it from that standpoint, it’s hard to begrudge that. It’s hard to have a problem with that. It’s like there’s a new start in town. That doesn’t mean that you star has to descend, you got out on that court and you can show that you’re still that dude. But this brother is that special, and it cannot be ignored.”
Rich wanted LeBron to enjoy the summer
However, all this talk about Bron feeling slighted or disrespected is purely coming from the media, not from King James himself. According to NBA analyst Ethan Skolnick, LBJ has not been too involved with the Lakers’ offseason moves because he has already recognized that he is no longer the priority in L.A.
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“This feels to me like the Lakers want to get out of LeBron James’ business. They want to pivot. He doesn’t like not to be celebrated,” Skolnick said. “It just feels like he recognizes he’s not their priority anymore, and that’s created some tension, some friction, and that’s why we’ve seen Rich Paul come out and said and hinting things in this regard.”
Skolnick has a point about James accepting the reality about Doncic, but it’s unclear if that has created tension or friction because again, it’s just the opinion of another talking head. As Rich Paul recently said, their focus has been to enjoy the summer, not answer speculations about LeBron’s future. Because King James opted in to his player option, expect him to be, as he has been in the past 22 years, a pro to the tee in doing his job.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 18, 2025, where it first appeared.