Rumor: LeBron James Reached Out To Luka Dončić After Lakers Signed Dončić To Extension

August 3, 2025

LeBron James, Luka Dončić, Lakers, NBA — Luke Hales/Getty Images

LeBron James reached out to Luka Dončić after the Los Angeles Lakers signed Dončić to an extension on Saturday, according to NBA insider Marc Stein of The Stein Line.

The Lakers signed Dončić to a three-year, $165 million extension. Year 3 of the deal is a player option.

“LeBron James and son Bronny James were noticeably not in attendance at the news conference, but I’m told that LeBron FaceTimed Luka Dončić on Saturday morning to congratulate him on the new deal,” Stein wrote.

Dončić and LeBron appeared in 23 games together last season after the Dallas Mavericks traded Dončić to the Lakers. Los Angeles went 15–8 when Dončić and LeBron were in the lineup.

All the people who thought Dončić and LeBron couldn’t play together were wrong. Dončić averaged 27.7 points, 7.6 rebounds and 7.3 assists next to LeBron, who averaged 23.7 points, 7.8 rebounds and 6.7 assists alongside Dončić.

The Lakers were the third seed in the Western Conference last season. However, they lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2025 postseason in five games, losing Games 1, 3, 4 and 5 of the series.

LeBron, who turns 41 in December, picked up his 2025-26 player option with the Lakers. He will make $52.6 million next season in the final year of his contract. The leading scorer in NBA history will become an unrestricted free agent next summer for the first time since 2018.

If he doesn’t retire after next season, LeBron could leave the Lakers next summer since he’ll be an unrestricted free agent. According to Grant Afseth of DallasHoopsJournal.com, Dončić wants LeBron to retire in Los Angeles.

Afseth is also reporting that the Lakers are expected to start Dončić, Austin Reaves, LeBron, Rui Hachimura and Deandre Ayton next season.

LeBron is a four-time champion and a four-time Finals MVP. Meanwhile, Dončić reached the NBA Finals in 2024 with the Mavericks, who lost to the Boston Celtics in five games.