Luka Doncic Reveals How LeBron James Treated Him During First Season With Lakers

Luka Doncic Reveals How LeBron James Treated Him During First Season With Lakers originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Luka Doncic made his thoughts clear about playing with LeBron James. The Los Angeles Lakers' front office paired them up ahead of the 2025 trade deadline in a blockbuster move that sent 2020 NBA champion Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for the Slovenian guard.

The relationship between Doncic and James has been under the spotlight in recent weeks, especially after several reports suggested the four-time NBA champion wasn't too thrilled to see the team shifting its focus to Doncic, both from a game and business point of view.

Earlier this month, Doncic's agent, Lara Beth Seager, shed light on Doncic's impression of James, insisting that her client "loves playing" with James and "considers it an honor to be his teammate."

Doncic: Playing with James 'an amazing experience'

During an appearance at a New York Yankees-Tampa Bay Rays game on Tuesday, Doncic joined the broadcast. The Slovenian superstar was asked about his experience playing with James. He didn't mince words and praised his teammate, a person he admired growing up.

"It was an amazing experience," Doncic said. "I always looked up to him, the way he approaches the game, his professionalism. So, when I came [to the Lakers last season], he accepted me with open arms."

"It was an amazing experience. I always looked up to him, the way he approaches the game, his professionalism. So, when I came [to the Lakers last season], he accepted me with open arms."

Luka Doncic on playing with LeBron James 🗣️pic.twitter.com/3V8b4pGBGg

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) July 29, 2025

This tandem gave the Lakers an extra push as the 2024-25 regular season ended. They took the purple and gold to the third seed in the Western Conference (50-32), but their first experience together ended when the Minnesota Timberwolves took them out in the first round of the playoffs.

Luka Doncic set to sign contract extension with Lakers

After averaging 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.5 assists per game in 28 games with the Lakers, Doncic will enter the fourth year of his five-year, $215.1 million designated rookie extension.

He didn't agree to an extension with the Dallas Mavericks, but the Lakers are all-in to lock him up for many more years. A lot has been said about Doncic's pending decision, with the Dallas Hoops Journal reporting that the player verbally agreed to a four-year, $229 million extension.

With the addition of Deandre Ayton, Doncic looking in the best shape of his career and James preparing for another run, the Lakers might be back in contention in the 2025-26 season.

It would be a catastrophe if Doncic ends up leaving the Lakers at some point, but nothing suggests he's thinking of that possibility at this moment.

Related: Luka Doncic’s Dramatic Weight Loss Has Fans Saying the Same Thing About Nico Harrison

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 29, 2025, where it first appeared.