The Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated in the first round of the 2024–25 NBA Playoffs, falling to the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games. Among the main targets of criticism following the loss was Luka Doncic, whose defensive struggles became a recurring issue throughout the series. In the wake of the defeat, LeBron James spoke candidly about Doncic’s situation and his long-term future with the franchise.
According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin via X (formerly Twitter), James made it clear that Doncic’s future is in his own hands. “No, that ain’t my job,” James said when asked about the direction Doncic should take. “I think—no, I know—Luka knows how I feel about him. Ultimately, that trade happened for the future. That’s not for me. Luka has to decide what he wants to do with his future. He’s 26 years old, I’m 40. He can’t be basing his career off of me. That’s just real.”
James went on to express support for Doncic’s presence in Los Angeles, while acknowledging that his own time in the league is nearing its end.
“But I hope, obviously, he stays long-term. Lakers fans f***ing love him here. L.A. has embraced him. We love him as a teammate, as a brother. But ultimately, he’s got to make a decision for himself. I ain’t going to be around much longer.”
Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after a basket during the second quarter against the Houston Rockets at Crypto.com Arena on April 11, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
James’ comments suggest the franchise didn’t make the trade for Doncic solely to pursue a title during the final stretch of his own career, but rather as a long-term investment in maintaining the Lakers’ competitiveness in the post-LeBron era.
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LeBron James diagnosed with MCL sprain following Game 5 injury
In the same game that ended the Lakers’ season—a 103–96 loss to Minnesota in Game 5—LeBron James left the court in visible pain after a collision with Donte DiVincenzo. Initial concerns were confirmed Friday when ESPN reported that the 40-year-old suffered a Grade 2 sprain of the medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his left knee.
Per McMenamin, league sources indicate that James is expected to miss 3–5 weeks but should be fully recovered by mid-June. “Story filed to ESPN.com: LeBron James suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his left knee from his collision with Donte DiVincenzo in Wednesday’s Game 5, a league source told ESPN. The injury entails a 3–5 week recovery timeline.”
Despite the disappointing playoff exit, the update offers hope that James will be ready for offseason preparations if he chooses to return for another year in the NBA.
