Los Angeles Lakers

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

A future season without LeBron James would represent a definitive shift in the Lakers' history, ending an era that began over eight years ago. For the first time since the 2017–18 season, fans would watch games without LeBron James on the roster—but as of 2025, no such departure has been confirmed. This hypothetical transition would define the team's landscape as it enters its 80th season overall and 78th in the NBA. The roster construction would reflect this change, particularly in how the team approaches the draft; they currently hold only one first-round selection.

In Their Own Story

As the franchise prepares for its 80th season, the absence of LeBron James creates a new narrative thread that has not existed since 2017–18. The announcement that he would leave after his 24th season and join the Philadelphia 76ers closed one chapter while opening another for the Lakers in Los Angeles. This specific turnover influences how the team navigates its 79th NBA campaign and its 67th year calling Los Angeles home. The draft strategy mirrors this transitional period, with the organization entering the lottery holding just a single first-round pick. Their earlier move to trade their second-round selection to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2020 further shaped the current asset pool, resulting in that pick being utilized by the Golden State Warriors instead.

Reader's Guide

Understanding the 2026–27 season requires noting three specific historical markers provided by the source. First, this is the franchise's 80th year overall and its 79th in the NBA. Second, it marks the 67th year of play in Los Angeles and the 28th at Crypto.com Arena. Third, the roster landscape has fundamentally changed: LeBron James will not be on the team for his announced 24th season, having signed with the Philadelphia 76ers. This ends a streak dating back to 2017–18. Fans should also note the draft context; the Lakers hold only one first-round selection because their second-round pick was traded to Cleveland in 2020 and later used by Golden State.

Did You Know?

• A future season would be the first since 2017–18 without LeBron James, but this has not yet happened as of 2025.
• LeBron James has not announced any plans to leave the Lakers or sign with another team as of 2025.
• The franchise would be playing its 78th season in the NBA, marking its 80th season overall since its 1947–48 NBL debut.
• This would be the 27th season the Lakers have played home games at Crypto.com Arena.