Los Angeles Lakers Stars Luka Dončić, LeBron James ‘Have Maintained Communication Dating Back to the Onset of the Summer’

NBA superstars Luka Dončić and LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers “have maintained communication dating back to the onset of the summer,” according to Anthony Irwin of ClutchPoints.

James facetimed Dončić on August 2 to congratulate him on his extension with the Lakers, who were the third seed in the West last season but lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2025 playoffs in five games.

“Speaking of LeBron James, sources close to the team reiterated recently that he and Luka Dončić have maintained communication dating back to the onset of the summer with the focus being how they can make each other better,” Irwin wrote. “Rampant speculation about James’ future aside, both superstars are looking forward to playing together again next season.”

Dončić and James, two of the best players in the NBA, played 23 games together last season. The Lakers went 15–8 in those games.

Dončić averaged 27.7 points, 7.6 rebounds and 7.3 assists alongside James, who averaged 23.7 points, 7.8 rebounds and 6.7 assists next to Dončić in 2024-25.

James, 40, 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 of all time will become an unrestricted free agent next offseason for the first time since 2018.

Dončić wants James to retire from the NBA with the Lakers, a source told DallasHoopsJournal . Dončić has frequently said James was the player he watched most growing up. The former Dallas Mavericks star enjoyed playing alongside James last season and believes the Lakers can contend for the championship in 2025-26.

Following the departure of Dorian Finney-Smith to the Houston Rockets on the first day of free agency, Dončić recruited Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart to Los Angeles. Austin Reaves also recruited Jake LaRavia.

The Lakers are expected to start Dončić, Reaves, Rui Hachimura, James and Ayton next season. Dončić, who signed a three-year, $165 million extension with Los Angeles, is currently playing for Slovenia at EuroBasket.