Luka Dončić has officially taken over as the face of the Los Angeles Lakers following LeBron James’ departure this offseason. As both superstars begin new chapters in their careers, a recent reported quotes appeared to suggest tension between the two.
Shortly after the report was shared, a Lakers reporter quickly stepped in to expose it as false.
Lakers Reporter Quickly Dismisses Fake Luka Dončić Quote About LeBron James
Dončić joined the Lakers through a blockbuster February trade in 2025, at a time when James was still firmly established as the franchise’s biggest star. However, that dynamic gradually evolved, with the six-time All-Star becoming the Lakers’ No. 1 offensive option and the player expected to lead the franchise into its next era.
Meanwhile, James moved on to the Philadelphia 76ers this offseason after informing the Lakers that he was not interested in returning for another stint with the franchise.
Amid the major change, an X account named Marc Jacobs recently shared a quote allegedly attributed to Dončić about James’ departure.
The account cited The Athletic as the supposed source and presented the quote as though Dončić had discussed why the Lakers could be better without the four-time NBA champion.
“Obviously, LeBron did a lot for this team and made us better,” Jacobs wrote. “We have a lot of respect for everything he brought to Los Angeles, but I think the team we have now fits us really well. We added a lot of guys who can defend, shoot, and make plays, and I really like the balance of this group. I think we have a better chance to compete at the highest level and ultimately win.”
Debunking the fabricated stance, The Athletic’s Lakers reporter, Dan Woike, quickly stepped in to shut down the claim. Woike made it clear that the quote had never come from Dončić and was not published by The Athletic.
“This is 10000 percent false and not something that Luka said or something that appeared in The Athletic – where is the ‘parody’ in just being a liar,” Woike reported.
This is 10000 percent false and not something that Luka said or something that appeared in The Athletic – where is the “parody” in just being a liar https://t.co/vMjCwbPQwn
— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) August 15, 2026
Despite Dončić becoming the Lakers’ franchise centerpiece even while James was still with the team, there were reportedly no signs of animosity between the two stars.
During their season-and-a-half together in Los Angeles, Dončić repeatedly spoke about how special it was to share the court with a four-time MVP whom he had admired for years.
The Slovenian superstar also shared a heartfelt message on social media following James’ departure. Meanwhile, the 41-year-old publicly acknowledged Dončić as the cornerstone of the Lakers and recognized that the franchise’s future belonged to the former Dallas Mavericks star.
Dončić arrived in Los Angeles after the Mavericks shockingly parted ways with him, and was entering a difficult and emotional period of his career.
Having James’ support during that transition undoubtedly made the move easier, underscoring the significance of the relationship they built in Los Angeles.
This is not the first time the X account has generated debate within the NBA community. Earlier this week, the account made headlines by claiming that Russell Westbrook and Hapoel Tel Aviv had mutual interest, while suggesting that the former MVP was seriously considering playing overseas this season.
However, NBA insiders later debunked the report before Westbrook ultimately announced his retirement.
