The Lakers are winning - and for once, it’s not all on LeBron James’ shoulders. That’s not a knock on the King.
It’s actually a testament to how this current Lakers squad has evolved. For years, the formula in L.A. was simple: if LeBron wasn’t dominant, the team wasn’t winning.
But this season, there’s a new dynamic at play, and it’s reshaping the way we talk about the Lakers’ title hopes.
Luka Doncic has brought a fresh dimension to the roster, and Austin Reaves continues to take major strides in his development. That’s allowed LeBron to step back just a bit - not disappear, not defer completely - but play more selectively, more efficiently.
He’s still impacting games, just in different ways. And that’s a huge win for a player in his third decade of NBA basketball.
But as the Lakers’ on-court balance improves, LeBron’s off-court value is once again front and center - especially when it comes to his contract situation heading into next season.
Here’s the thing: for most of his career, LeBron James has been the best player on his team. That part’s never been in question.
What’s more surprising is how often he hasn’t been the highest-paid. According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, it took until LeBron’s 12th season in the league for him to finally top the salary chart on his own team.
And even then, there were years when he was only tied for the highest salary.
That detail becomes even more relevant now, as James approaches another potential contract negotiation. Some might assume that, given his age and the help around him, LeBron would be open to a discount to help the Lakers build out the roster. But Windhorst suggests that might not be the case - and for good reason.
“He was in his 12th season before he was the highest paid player on his team,” Windhorst said recently on The Ryen Russillo Podcast. “There were times when he was tied for the highest paid salary to be clear, but it was his 12th season.”
That context matters. Because it helps explain why LeBron, even now, is so focused on maximizing his earnings.
“LeBron’s been very attuned to maximizing his salary because he’s felt he was underpaid,” Windhorst continued. “And he felt he was underpaid for the middle part of his career there. And he was like, I’m going to make sure I get taken care of.”
It’s hard to argue with that logic. Even at $50 million a year, Windhorst notes, LeBron’s value to the Lakers - both on the court and off - likely exceeds his paycheck. Between his production, his leadership, and his global marketability, James brings a level of impact that few athletes in any sport can match.
So as the Lakers look ahead to next season, the question isn’t just how to keep building around LeBron - it’s how to properly value a player who’s still delivering, still drawing crowds, and still shaping the identity of one of the NBA’s most storied franchises.
At this stage of his career, LeBron James isn’t just playing for rings - he’s playing for legacy, and for the paycheck that reflects it.