LOS ANGELES — When LeBron James suited up for the first time this season on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2025, against the Utah Jazz, the Los Angeles Lakers legend made sure his new superstar teammate received top billing during pre-game introductions.
According to The Athletic’s Dan Woike, James personally asked that Luka Doncic be announced last among the Lakers’ starters, while James took the first spot in public-address announcer Lawrence Tanter’s roll call. The gesture came in James’ 23rd NBA season and his return after missing the opening 14 games with sciatica.
The decision continued a pattern that began when the Lakers acquired Doncic before the 2024-25 campaign. James initially ceded the final introduction to the Slovenian guard during Doncic’s Lakers debut, though Doncic later asked that the order revert to James for the remainder of that season.
With James sidelined at the start of 2025-26, Doncic led Los Angeles to a strong start. After Tuesday’s victory over Utah, the four-time All-Star described sharing the floor with his boyhood idol as “special.”
“Honestly, just sharing the court with him. It’s the 23rd season. It’s insane,” Doncic said postgame. “He sees things that other people can’t. He’s here to help us all, so it’s amazing. It’s only his first game back, and he plays amazing, so I’m excited to play some more.”
James, who turns 41 later this season, has publicly embraced the organization’s long-term shift toward Doncic’s timeline. Both stars now turn their attention to keeping the Lakers in title contention.
Source: LakersNation.com
