Danny Green, a former guard for the Los Angeles Lakers and one of only four players to have secured an NBA championship with three different teams, recently expressed reservations regarding the Lakers` path forward with LeBron James leading the team.
According to Green, James, who holds a player option this summer and has not yet finalized his future plans, would be better off joining a different team if the Lakers are serious about contending for a championship in the near future, particularly if they envision building their roster around Luka Doncic.
Speaking on the `All The Smoke` podcast this week, Green commented, “I believe their offense is explosive, but defensively, I think they`re significantly lacking.” He added concerns about James` remaining career length, stating, “It`s genuinely difficult to secure a championship when your primary player is 40. LeBron will be 41 next year. While he can still put up impressive scoring numbers, I don`t currently see them winning a title with that setup.”
James is currently under a two-year, $104 million contract, but the player option for the 2025-26 season allows him the possibility to opt out. He remained highly efficient this past season, averaging 24.4 points, 8.2 assists, and 7.8 rebounds per game. However, the Lakers have found postseason success elusive since their championship win in the 2020 bubble. They have suffered first-round exits in three of their last four playoff appearances and were noted for a lack of defensive intensity during J.J. Redick`s first season as coach.
The team`s current odds for the 2025-26 title futures are listed at +1700, placing them in the lower half of potential championship contenders.
Green`s history with James includes an initial period with the Cleveland Cavaliers before they reunited in Los Angeles, culminating in their joint championship victory a few years ago.
Green acknowledged the considerable pressure that came with playing alongside James but emphasized that he cherishes the experiences and lessons learned from the four-time MVP and former No. 1 overall draft pick in 2003.
“There are moments when it`s challenging due to the immense pressure, even when you`re wide open, to perform because you`re on the court with LeBron James,” Green explained. He clarified that this pressure is primarily external, saying, “And that’s more so on the outside than it is on the inside because [LeBron] ain’t putting the pressure on you.”
“But all the LeBron fans are like, ‘Who’s this bum? Why is he playing? He can’t make a damn shot,’” Green continued. “So, it has its upsides and downsides, but he truly simplified the game. Learning from him early on was enjoyable, playing against him was fun, and playing alongside him was even better, especially winning the championship in the bubble. It was a fantastic experience, truly the best scenario I could have hoped for.”
Jasper Hawthorne