Luka Dončić pays homage to LeBron James in 9-word tribute after blockbuster Lakers announcement

Luka Dončić just said goodbye to LeBron James with an emotional social media post.

On his Instagram page, Dončić shared a photo of he and James hugging with the caption, “An honor to play with and learn from you @kingjames.”

Dončić’s message came just a couple hours after it was revealed James will move on from Los Angeles in 2026.

James, according to his agent Rich Paul, informed the Lakers this week they can officially move forward without him as he wants to play elsewhere next season.

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The decision will end a Dončić-James pairing that first began in February 2025, after the Lakers traded for Dončić in a blockbuster with the Mavericks.

The two All-Stars ultimately didn’t get to play a significant amount of games with one another as they both battled injuries throughout this past season, though their time on the floor together nonetheless clearly impacted Dončić.

It’s unclear where both sides go from here. The Lakers have made it known they’re prioritizing finding the right pieces to surround Doncic with as soon as free agency opens up later Tuesday, though their specific targets have yet to be revealed.

As for James, Miami, Golden State and Cleveland have all been rumored to be possible landing spots for the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.

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