Shaquille O’Neal believes the Los Angeles Lakers started shifting on from LeBron James once they acquired Luka Doncic, although the 2 superstars spent the 2025-26 season collectively. O’Neal advised Heavy that the choice mirrored the enterprise facet of the NBA and the Lakers’ want to construct round a youthful famous person.
“No, it’s what we name the enterprise of basketball,” O’Neal stated. “Whenever you become older, and also you’re nonetheless taking part in at a excessive degree, you’re nonetheless attempting to demand excessive cash; typically as a franchise it’s a must to say, ‘Do I wish to pay this man this a lot cash for the following two years, or do I wanna go get youthful?’ I knew once they introduced in Luka Doncic, they have been trying to begin over.”
The Lakers acquired Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks in February 2025 in a three-team commerce that despatched Anthony Davis to Dallas. The transfer gave Los Angeles a 25-year-old All-NBA famous person whereas James was already 40, establishing Doncic because the franchise’s long-term centerpiece.
James and Doncic nonetheless performed collectively in 2025-26, with each remaining main contributors. Doncic averaged 33.5 factors, 8.3 assists and seven.7 rebounds in 64 video games, taking pictures 47.6% from the sphere and 36.6% from three-point vary.
James averaged 20.9 factors, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds in 60 video games whereas taking pictures 51.5% from the sphere. At age 41, he remained an All-Star and began all 60 video games he performed.
The Lakers completed 53-29 and fourth within the Western Convention, however their season ended within the second spherical when the Oklahoma City Thunder swept them 4-0.
The offseason then made the shift recognized by O’Neal express. Los Angeles dedicated to constructing its roster round Doncic and Austin Reaves whereas in the end parting ways with James.
The Lakers had already prolonged Doncic earlier than the 2025-26 season, giving the franchise a long-term basis round a 27-year-old famous person.
Los Angeles subsequently doubled down on that path in July by acquiring Walker Kessler and committing to a brand new core of Doncic, Reaves and Kessler. The Lakers additionally gave Reaves a four-year, $185 million extension, additional establishing the roster’s post-James construction.
That transformation means James’ departure was not merely the top of a contract cycle. From O’Neal’s perspective, the Lakers had already made their strategic selection once they traded for Doncic: protect the current with James or spend money on a participant able to main the franchise for the following decade.
The Lakers in the end selected the latter.
