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By Matt Audilet
Contributing Sports Writer
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LeBron James informed the Los Angeles Lakers that he plans to play elsewhere this coming NBA season, ending his eight-year stint with the historic franchise.
This wasn't an ugly breakup, as both sides delivered messages of respect as they parted ways.
Superstar point guard Luka Doncic delivered a parting message of his own, addressing the decision with a social media post.
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"An honor to play with and learn from you @kingjames," Doncic wrote on Instagram, along with a photo of them embracing in their Lakers uniforms.
Doncic teamed up with James after a blockbuster trade with the Dallas Mavericks sent him to Los Angeles midway through the 2024-25 season. In their first full season as teammates, Doncic led the league with 33.5 points per game and finished fourth in MVP voting.
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James and Doncic never got a chance to make a deep playoff run side by side. This past season, both Doncic and Austin Reaves were sidelined to begin the playoffs. James led the Lakers out of the first round with a series win over the Houston Rockets, but ultimately fell in a series sweep at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder with Doncic sitting on the bench.
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“LeBron James is one of the greatest athletes in history. We will always be thankful for his eight years with the Lakers — including the title he led us in 2020 under the toughest circumstances and the countless records he broke in purple and gold," team president Jeanie Buss said in a statement. "We wish him all the best in the future, both on the court and off. He will always be a cherished part of the Lakers family."
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