The message is simple: this is not a rivalry, it’s a partnership. Luka Doncic wants LeBron James to retire as a Laker, and as long as he’s leading the franchise, that wish might just come true. This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jul 31, 2025, where it first appeared.

As The Athletic's Dan Woike observed, Dončić is on a U.S. tour for Jordan Brand which happens to finish in Los Angeles, a visit that coincides with the first date in which he's eligible to sign an extension. This extension, which would officially keep him out of free agency next summer, could be up to a four-year, $229 million extension.