THE TAKE
The Los Angeles Lakers cannot legitimately be said to be in the championship equation, questioning whether LeBron would want to stay with a team that isn't positioned to win championships.
BOLDNESS
20/100
GRADE
48/100
PLAYERS / TEAMS
LeBron James
GRADING CRITERIA
TRUE IF
the Lakers fail to reach the NBA Finals in the 2025-26 season AND LeBron James either publicly expresses desire to leave or formally requests a trade or departs via free agency. Take is
FALSE IF
the Lakers reach the NBA Finals or LeBron re-signs/commits to staying without any public indication of discontent.
vaguerecency biashot take
OUTCOME
PARTIALLY TRUEThe Lakers did fail to reach the NBA Finals — they were swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round. However, LeBron has not formally requested a trade or publicly expressed a desire to leave; instead, he is a free agent this summer and his situation is described as genuinely uncertain, with a return to the Lakers still considered a real possibility. Sources indicate he 'loves it in L.A.' and the Lakers have not closed the door on re-signing him.