Amid speculation over tension brewing between LeBron James, the Los Angeles Lakers and Luka Don\u010di\u0107, maybe their relationship isn\u2019t fractured after all.<\/p>\n
Don\u010di\u0107 was the talk of the NBA on Monday, after Men\u2019s Health released a feature<\/a> depicting his recommitment to conditioning and fitness. And while everyone previously assumed James was the perfect teammate to get Don\u010di\u0107 in shape, he was noticeably absent from the Men\u2019s Health article.<\/p>\n The feature is about Don\u010di\u0107, not LeBron. He doesn\u2019t owe his new teammate anything. But even while discussing his renewed focus on staying in shape, mentioning James seemed like an easy opportunity for a shoutout. Instead, Don\u010di\u0107 credited Dirk Nowitzki, Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan.<\/p>\n \u201cMJ and Kobe, you know, they really did a lot in their careers,\u201d Don\u010di\u0107 told Men\u2019s Health<\/a>. \u201cThey sacrificed a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n MJ and Kobe did do a lot in their careers, but omitting LeBron James and all of his career accomplishments from that comment was sort of glaring.<\/p>\n But later Monday night, Luka Don\u010di\u0107 would go on to temper concerns about his relationship with. After the Men\u2019s Health feature published, Don\u010di\u0107 was in New York for the Jordan Brand Tour where he made a stop at Yankee Stadium and their TV booth. During the visit, play-by-play voice Michael Kay asked Don\u010di\u0107 about playing with James last season.<\/p>\n Luka Doncic calls playing with LeBron James an \u201camazing experience\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI always looked up to him, the way he approaches the game, his professionalism. So, when I came, he accepted me with open arms and it was just amazing to be his teammate.\u201d pic.twitter.com\/H8oOHngd3k<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) July 29, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cIt was an amazing experience,\u201d Don\u010di\u0107 said. \u201cI always looked up to him, the way he approaches the game, his professionalism. So, when I came, he accepted me with open arms, and it was just amazing to be his teammate.\u201d<\/p>\n Recent reports have suggested the Lakers shifted organizational power from James to Don\u010di\u0107 as they pivot toward building around the younger superstar. Those reports have also suggested James is taking the pivot personally and might be ready to leave Los Angeles<\/a> altogether, despite exercising his $52.6 million player option for the 2025-26 season with the Lakers last month.<\/p>\n And this week\u2019s Men\u2019s Health feature did little to dispel any notion about tension between Don\u010di\u0107 and LeBron. Don\u010di\u0107\u2019s stop into the Yankees booth, however, told a different story of his relationship with LeBron. Although conspiracy theorists will note Don\u010di\u0107\u2019s repeat use of \u201cwas\u201d when talking about LeBron James as a teammate.<\/p>\n \t