NBA icon LeBron James says Luka Doncic’s arrival at the Los Angeles Lakers has not given him extra cause to consider extending his career – and has voiced his admiration for San Antonio Spurs prodigy Victor Wembanyama’s approach to the game.
Two of the most high-profile names in basketball moved in opposite directions when Doncic left the Dallas Mavericks for the Lakers in exchange for Davis at the start of February, while 2024 Rookie of the Year Wembanyama featured in the All-Star Game at San Francisco’s Chase Center on Sunday.
“Just the excitement of having a player like that – a generational talent – at our franchise is something that’s given me energy,” said James, who is continuing to star after turning 40 in December.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do. He’s only had two games so far… as we continue to get into form, as he continues to get into form, we could be really good down the stretch.”
LeBron James is an egoistical maniac. Dude says that he can’t play in the All-Star Game because he has a SoRe AnKle & can’t even put a uniform on for photos…
NBA will be better when LeBron is gone. Laughable to consider this dude the 🐐& “King”
— Jon Root (@JonnyRoot_) February 17, 2025
📰 Table Of Contents
LeBron: Wembanyama ‘loves the game’
On his All-Star Game debut, Wembanyama top-scored for the Global Stars with 11 points and was involved in a playful exchange in the locker room with team-mate Nikola Jokic, who usually plays for the Denver Nuggets.
“You really brought a book?” Jokic asked Wembanyama when he saw him reading, receiving a reply of: “Yeah, I read before every game.”
James seemed impressed with Wembanyama’s commitment to recharging and referenced reports in January that the 7ft 3in Frenchman has told Spurs staff not to contact him after 9.30 at night.
“From the outside looking in, it seems that he has a great head on his shoulders,” observed James. “It seems like he loves the game, that he takes care of his body, the process and everything.
LeBron says that he will NOT be playing in the All-Star game tonight due to ankle and foot discomfort pic.twitter.com/wKzF8B7i72
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 16, 2025
“You’re going to take out of the game what you put into it. I saw one quote where he said [people had] better not call him past nine o’clock at night because he’s either reading or sleeping.
“That’s super-cool, that’s super-dope. That lets you know where his mindframe is, where he is at intellectually. He’s been great for the franchise with the Spurs and is going to be great for our league for so many years to come.”
NBA All Star Game
Forward James said he had not played in the All-Star Game because he is “still dealing with ankle and foot discomfort”.
The Golden State Warriors’ Steph Curry was named Most Valuable Player in the showpiece after scoring 12 points to help the OGs become champions with a 41-25 win over Wembanyama’s team.
