Examining How LeBron James' Retirement Mystery Impacts Luka, Reaves Amid Lakers Rumors
LeBron James has reached the point in his career where the conversation, as much as it remains about winning his next NBA Championship, is ultimately about how much longer he has before he chooses retirement.
Understandably, for a star of his magnitude, the question hovers over the Los Angeles Lakers like a heavy, pregnant cloud as reporters and fans alike try to imagine an NBA without the man who has been its face for the last 23 seasons.
While some may consider the media circus a distraction, considering the team's championship aspirations, Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves remain happy to play with the former Hall of Famer.
ESPN's Dave McMenamin reported "Doncic and Reaves, for their part, love playing with James and want the partnership to continue, sources told ESPN."
He added, "Both players have not inquired with James about when he plans to retire, sources said, wanting to show respect for James' process."
It is not difficult to see why Dončić is unfazed by the attention surrounding James' "will he or won't he" retirement decision. He was in a similar situation in Dallas when Dirk Nowitzki called it a career. While the big man was not a crossover megastar to the extent that James is, he was an icon and hero in Dallas and someone who walked away with considerable attention.
Reaves, on the other hand, is a young player who has developed into a star in Los Angeles by playing with James.
He does not know NBA basketball without LeBron playing alongside him. He is one of the few stars whose pro-style has been directly influenced by the all-timer. While he has the tools to be star beyond James' playing days, it makes sense that he would not be in any rush for one of the greatest players of all time to hang them up.
Then there is the obvious: the 40-year-old is still playing great basketball.
James averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 8.2 assists, and 34.9 minutes a season ago while shooting 51.3 percent from the paint and 37.6 percent from beyond the arc.
He missed 12 games and his scoring was down a bit, but James is still a top-tier player with more experience and basketball knowledge than anyone else still suiting up.
While the constant questions about his future with the team and whether he is retiring can and will become tedious for players like Dončić and Reaves, they and the entire Lakers organization understand that to win an NBA title this season, they are far better off having one of the most decorated, beloved, and prolific players the game has ever seen on their side of the court.
