Oct 12, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Lebron James (23) looks on from the bench during the first half against the Golden State Warriors at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

The King’s Shadow: LeBron Watches The Lakers With A Winning Priority

Originally posted on Stadium Rant | By Levi Omeke | Last updated Oct 14, 2025 11:14 PM ET

Los Angeles Lakers small forward LeBron James is expected to monitor the Lakers’ situation while he is out. He will miss time at the beginning of the season due to a sciatica injury.

“LeBron’s gotta be watching, while he’s out NBA Reporter for ESPN, David McMenamin said. If they are struggling, that could lead to the next step… When Rich Paul said that LeBron will be watching the Lakers’ every move because the priority is to win.”

Roster Decisions And Unending Demands

James is putting pressure on the Lakers. The team needs to get a good trade for him. They should focus on rebuilding with point guard Luka Doncic and plan for the future.

LeBron is monitoring the Lakers as if he had not built half that mess himself. This man has been the coach, GM, and PR department for six years. Now he is pretending to be the victim of his own roster decisions.

James has Doncic, shooting guard Austin Reaves, center DeAndre Ayton, and small forward Rui Hachimura. He feels, though, that it is still not enough to win a championship because he wants a better situation. Unlike Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry and San Antonio Spurs power forward Tim Duncan, he has never stayed with one team.

Switching to a winning franchise can be perceived as a somewhat unprincipled decision. It appears that individuals in this era increasingly engage in such practices, which can lead to a loss of respect within the community.

End Of My LeBron James Rant

Sep 29, 2025; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) during media day at UCLA Health Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

LeBron has a $52.6 million expiring contract with a no-trade clause. At 41 years old, he remains one of the top players in the NBA.

There is not a single team that is going to surrender assets that Lebron will actually approve the trade. It is unlikely to happen until he is an unrestricted free agent this summer.

This article first appeared on Stadium Rant and was syndicated with permission.

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