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Richard Jefferson points out why LeBron James’ complaints about Lakers’ plans don’t hold up

Originally posted on HITC | By Dan Coombs | Last updated Jul 18, 2025 12:09 PM ET

LeBron James’ old teammate Richard Jefferson has played down the concerns about his current situation.

LeBron has already made his choice: he wants to stay with the LA Lakers next season. But that doesn’t mean he’s satisfied with how things are going. The NBA legend and his camp want the team to prioritise winning over long-term planning.

It was a surprising move and highlights just how unusual LeBron’s situation is. For the first time in over 20 years, he isn’t at the centre of his team’s plans.

This has sparked plenty of debate, with trade rumours swirling around him despite the Lakers’ insistence that he isn’t going anywhere.

LeBron James told to accept the truth of his Lakers situation

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Former teammate of LeBron James during their time with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Richard Jefferson has spoken about the current state of LeBron’s career.

On Road Trippin’, Jefferson said that the reality for LeBron is that the Lakers have to look beyond him when planning for the future.

Jefferson explained: “They always say an athlete dies twice. When you retire and then when you actually pass on. And so there’s always a transition phase when you look at ‘Bron.

“He’s played the league for what, 22 years, or whatever. The NBA, he knows, the Lakers know, everyone knows ‘Bron has one, maybe two years left.

“And this is not based off of his ability. This is based off of what he is saying, what the overall energy is.”

“So LeBron can’t look at them and be like, ‘well if you want me a part of your five year plan, this is what you have to do’.

“We know that you’re moving on, and we want you to be in a Laker jersey. We want to move on.”

He added: “We have to transition because everything is like five year plans, three year plans… like LeBron is not a part of their Lakers three year plan because he’s not a part of the NBA three year plan because he’s most likely going to retire.

“So to make it so negative about ‘they’re not talking to LeBron’… Well, LeBron is moving on right?

“LeBron is moving on. The person that’s about to retire from the company is not making boardroom decisions. That’s just factual in any industry, any business.”

Lakers still need LeBron James next season

The LA Lakers are absolutely right in preparing for life without LeBron James. There should be no hesitation about this. However, it shouldn’t distract from how vital he remains next season.

The team won 59 games last season – even with all their issues – and reached Game Seven in round two. LeBron James appears to be back in step with the Lakers and with the right support, he could help push them further.

Planning for the future is wise, but they can’t ignore the possibility of competing now, while LeBron is still capable.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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