LeBron James should consider Karl Malone’s move to help the Los Angeles Lakers win an NBA Championship.
As shocking as it was, the Los Angeles Lakers trading for superstar Luka Doncic in the middle of the 2024-25 season was a move that helped the team enter a new era.
For the past seven years, LeBron James has been the face of the LA Lakers. However, with James turning 40 years old last season, it’s only a matter of time before he bids farewell to the NBA.
As a result, having someone of Doncic’s caliber replace him as the cornerstone superstar is a dream come true for Laker Nation. But before that transition is complete, the Lakers could still still try winning an NBA title with the James-Doncic duo.
Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty ImagesLeBron James needs to make Karl Malone-type sacrifice
Despite finishing as the third seed in the Western Conference, the Lakers’ journey finished in just five games in the 2025 NBA Playoffs.
Following the first-round defeat at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves, it’s obvious that the Lakers need a better supporting cast around the James-Doncic duo.
One way to do it is by carefully trading and signing players ahead of the 2025-26 season. But considering how close the Lakers are to the luxury tax slab, it’s a tough move.
On the other hand, James could instantly help the Purple and Gold become a title contender if he follows what Karl Malone did in 2003 before joining the Lakers.
Before joining the Lakers, Malone was making $19.5 million with the Utah Jazz. However, the Mailman signed a veteran minimum $1.5 million deal, sacrificing $18 million to play for the Lakers.
Considering James has a $52.6 million player option for the upcoming season if he opts out of it and takes Malone’s path, it would give incredible flexibility to the Lakers to improve the roster around him and Doncic.
LeBron James would need to sacrifice much more than $18 million
Obviously, there are a plethora of roadblocks for this move to succeed. For starters, James is reportedly uninterested in taking a pay cut for the upcoming season.
Instead, he is planning to sign a two-year, $105 million deal to stay with the team. But if he decides to take the veteran minimum deal, it would require him to leave more than $100 million on the table.
Secondly, James is a much better player than Malone was heading into the 2003-04 season. Sure, he had missed just six games in 18 years with the Jazz, but Malone was undoubtedly out of his prime.
After all, the Jazz legend averaged 20.6 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game before joining the Lakers. On the other hand, LBJ averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game this season.
It’s unlikely that James will go this route, but it’s an interesting idea that could help him fulfill his quest to win the fifth NBA Championship of his career.