Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Images

Shocking LeBron James, Luka Doncic Prediction from Two Years Ago Resurfaces After Lakers Win

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Cole Sullivan | Last updated Feb 23, 2025 2:02 PM ET

The Los Angeles Lakers delivered one of their most dominant performances of the season on Saturday night, led by their new superstar Luka Doncic, who dropped a game-high 32 points in a 123-100 victory over the Denver Nuggets, who had been on a nine-game win streak.

The win marked Doncic's fourth game with the Lakers, and with the victory, the team improved to 34-21 on the season, securing the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference with 27 games left in the regular season.

While Doncic's performance alongside 40-year-old LeBron James was the best we've seen so far, an old post from 2023 by an NBA fan resurfaced after the win, quickly gaining over five million views and sparking widespread attention.

A post from June. 5, 2023 read, "LeBron last ring will be Luka first ring. And after last game of the Finals LeBron will reach with his hands up, take a crown off his head, put it on Luka head and announce his retirement."

Making this prediction two years ago is INSANE

(via @LukaUpdates) pic.twitter.com/pGhLRfgqkd
— Lakers All Day Everyday (@LADEig) February 23, 2025

Whether the prediction was based on the possibility of James eventually joining the Mavericks or the way it’s unfolded with Doncic now in Los Angeles, the prediction has gone viral on social media.

It’s especially resonated given that James has been vocal about the fact that the end of his career is nearing and that he’d prefer to go out on top, rather than play until the wheels fall off.

“I’m not going to play that much longer, to be completely honest,” James said in November. “I don’t know how many years that is. If it’s one year or two years, whatever the case may be. I said the other night, I’m not playing until the wheels fall off. I’m not going to be that guy. I’m not going to be the guy who is disrespecting the game because I just wanted to be out on the floor. That won’t be me."

Doncic, coming off an NBA Finals appearance just last year, was the face of the Mavericks—making his unexpected trade to the Lakers all the more shocking.

Whether the Lakers have work to do in order to be crowned NBA champions, the possibility is certainly there. Los Angeles has made it abundantly clear that their goal is to build around Doncic for years to come.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: