When the King speaks, you listen. It doesn’t matter who you are, as long as you’re with LeBron James, it’s his team you’re playing for. Twenty-two years in this game, the undisputed crowned jewel of the league, Bron is the key player of the LA Lakers. Surely, Rob Pelinka’s bids for Luka Doncic were a deal meant for the immediate future, of say 5 or 7 years. But for now, it’s LeBron’s world we’re living in.

However, owing to his age, the ‘Old Guy’ of the NBA might not hold the reins of his team. Or is he? Well, when Anthony Davis was playing for the Lakers, he took center stage, JJ Redick’s plans revolved around AD. In all fairness, LeBron took the position of the second-most important player, but when it came to decision-making, he always had something to say. Therefore, a question arises: Who is the real leader of the Purple and Gold after Davis? Is it the Akron Hammer or is it (going to be) Luka Doncic?

Does LeBron James have a clear position in the Lakers locker room?

Do you remember Doncic’s first game for LA? The one he played against the Utah Jazz and scored 14 points in his debut night? Yes, that one. LeBron James had a simple instruction for his new 25-year-old Slovenian teammate. He said during the team huddle before the game: “Luka, be your f—ing self. Don’t fit in. Fit the f–k out.” This command was enough for Doncic’s morale and we did see glimpses of vintage Luka throughout the game. Therefore coming back to the same question: Who should be the alpha of the LA Lakers?

ESPN Analyst, Alan Hahn then took the responsibility to clarify LeBron James’ position in the locker room. Thus speaking on Get Up, Hahn answered: “LeBron’s the alpha. If you say something like that in the huddle to a player, that’s you letting him know. Letting LeBron. Letting Luka know: ‘Go ahead and be you. I’m allowing it.'” Alan further noted: “That’s what an alpha does, ‘This is my team. But I’m allowing you to play your way.’ He will control. This is his ecosystem. And Luka has to figure out how he can play within it.”

In other words, Luka Doncic has to fit into LeBron James’ Lakers ecosystem. Although the 40-year-old wants Doncic to be himself rather than fitting it. But how long can this new arrangement work out for JJ Redick and Co.? But then, the future of all the drama is Doncic, and that’s the truth. However, the leadership organizational element of this, or who’s going to be taking the lead as far, LeBron James is going to lean into the facilitating side of his game. And he’s been fantastic at that. Meanwhile, Luka, moving forward is probably going to be the alpha, but it will alternate.

Now, coming back to the present, there is a concern looming at large. And that is LeBron James’ left foot injury. This brings us to the availability of the King for the upcoming two games in hand. However, there also might be a small strategic move the Lakers can pull off, taking advantage of Bron’s day-to-day.

Will James Sr. be on the lineup against the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday?

LeBron James is questionable for Wednesday’s game vs. the Hornets due to left foot soreness. He skipped the All-Star Game to stay fresh for the season’s second half and is eager to return. Moreover, reports suggest optimism for a comeback against either Charlotte or Portland on Thursday, pending medical clearance after his reevaluation on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, ESPN’s Shams Charania dived deeper into the Los Angeles Lakers‘ strategy weighing in their 40-year-old. Charania noted: “What the Lakers are weighing here is on one hand, the importance of the Luka Doncic-LeBron James chemistry and what that would signify for the second half of the NBA season.” Charania further said: “But also, the other side of it, is weighing potentially sitting LeBron James against these two lesser opponents. … As opposed to him playing, they could be looking at nine days of total rest.” 

LA is going to play the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena on Saturday. So, if the team gets the 4x MVP to sit out for the next two games, then LeBron James will have nine days of rest since their loss vs. the Jazz on Wednesday before the All-Star Weekend. Now it all comes down to what the Lakers are going to choose for their superstar: rest or games.

Thus, the math is simple, for now LeBron James is the leader of the Lakers. However, in the future, it’s going to be Luka Doncic holding the reins of the 17x NBA championship-winning team. But for now, it’s Bron who’s making the choices, and his Slovenian teammate has to fit in even though he’s been told not to. And for the upcoming games? The 40-year-old remains questionable, but for the Lakers, they’ve got a lot of thinking to do.