Stephen A. Smith has weighed in on the topic of Luka Doncic stepping into LeBron James’ shoes as the new face of the Lakers.
Doncic joined Los Angeles in a trade that took many by surprise, marking a major shift for both him and the team.
After recovering from injury, Luka initially struggled with fitness but dedicated his summer to returning fitter than ever.
His three-year extension with the Lakers position him as the team’s next leader, especially with LeBron expected to leave after the 2025-26 season.
Stephen A. Smith says the Lakers met every demand LeBron made
LeBron James joined the LA Lakers in 2018, transforming a struggling team. Despite an injury-plagued first year, he led them to their seventeenth championship in the 2019-20 season, signalling potential for more titles.
However, after being eliminated in the second round of the 2020-21 playoffs, several key players were traded to bring Russell Westbrook into the fold.
Stephen A. Smith discussed how the Lakers consistently met James’ demands during his tenure but added that it’s now time for Doncic to take over.
“You won a championship in the bubble. Kyle Kuzma did not have to be going after that, Alex Caruso didn’t have to be going after that, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and others didn’t have to be going after that,” Smith said.
“We might look at them now and say, ‘Okay that’s past,’ Certainly not in the case of Caruso, he’s just won a title in Oklahoma City. But in the immediate aftermath of that championship, you still needed those cats; you wanted your boy Russell Westbrook, what did the Lakers do? They gave you your boy.
“You wanted coaches gone, what did they do? They got rid of them. You wanted coaches to arrive, what did they do? They abided by your wishes.”
“I’m not saying he was wrong to have those wishes, you’re the face of the franchise, you’re damn right you have to have a say. There’s nothing wrong with that. But the point is they obliged and so at some point in time it’s somebody else’s turn and now it’s Luka’s turn.”
LeBron James remains key for the Lakers despite age
While picking up his player option could signal LeBron’s final season in LA, the Lakers will need him to stay locked in while he is still part of the squad.
Even though he is set to turn 41 in December, James remains one of the top players in the league and can still make a real impact on winning.
Doncic is a popular MVP pick among analysts because of how hard he’s worked, but if the Lakers are going to be serious contenders, they’ll need LeBron to step up too.
His basketball IQ and playmaking skills will be vital against some of the tougher defences they will face this season.
Entering his 23rd year, James has a chance to surpass Robert Parish for most NBA games played – another sign of just how long he has stayed at this level.
And it will not just be about breaking records, as LeBron will want to do it while helping push them back into title contention.
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