The debate is back, and it is louder than ever. With the NBA All-Star break wrapping up and the second half of the 2025–26 season about to tip off, one question is dominating basketball conversations from barbershops to broadcast desks — should the Los Angeles Lakers bring LeBron James back for another run? ESPN’s Chiney Ogwumike thinks the answer is obvious, and she is not holding back.
On Wednesday’s edition of Get Up, Ogwumike and fellow analyst Alan Hahn joined host Matt Barrie to break down the growing speculation around his future in Los Angeles. Ogwumike made her position clear — LeBron, even at 41 years old, remains a difference-maker at the highest level, and pairing him with Luka Doncic next season could be exactly the kind of move that pushes the Lakers back into legitimate championship contention.
Why the LeBron Debate Is Heating Up Right Now
The timing of this conversation is not accidental. He is currently playing out the final year of his contract and is set to become a free agent this summer. He is averaging 22.0 points, 7.1 assists, and 5.8 rebounds while shooting 50.2 percent from the field across 36 games this season — numbers that would be remarkable for a player a decade younger. The Lakers currently sit at 33–21 in the Western Conference standings, and LeBron‘s production has been a key reason why.
The production alone makes the case that he is far from done, and Ogwumike’s cheat code framing lands differently when the stats back it up completely. At 41 years old and in his 23rd NBA season, LeBron recently became the oldest player in league history to record a triple-double, a milestone that only added fuel to the fire around his future.
What Chiney Ogwumike and Alan Hahn Actually Said
Ogwumike’s argument centered on fit and impact. She framed LeBron not as a star competing for usage with Doncic, but as a seasoned facilitator who elevates everyone around him. The idea of LeBron playing a complementary role alongside a primary creator like Doncic — who is among the league leaders in scoring this season — is the kind of modern roster construction that wins championships.
Hahn offered a more cautious perspective, raising the question of franchise identity. With the Lakers holding offseason flexibility and tradable assets heading into the summer, the argument for going younger and more athletic is real. Bringing LeBron back on another contract — even a team-friendly one — keeps the franchise in a transitional gray area rather than fully committing to the Doncic era.
Mark Cuban’s comments also came up during the segment, with the longtime NBA owner weighing in on the league’s broader need to prioritize the fan experience over tanking culture. The intersection of star power, entertainment value, and winning is exactly where LeBron has always lived, and his presence in Los Angeles — even in a reduced role — still moves the needle in ways few players in the sport’s history ever have.
The Case For and Against Bringing LeBron Back
The basketball case for keeping LeBron is straightforward. He remains one of the most versatile playmakers in the game, and his ability to quarterback a half-court offense gives the Lakers a secondary option when Doncic needs rest or faces extended double teams. At his best this season, LeBron has shown he can still impose his will on a game — averaging 25.4 points over an eight-game stretch earlier this year.
The counterargument is less about production and more about hierarchy. LeBron, by his very nature, commands attention, usage, and cultural gravity that even the best young stars have to navigate around. Some analysts have suggested the Lakers would be better served building an identity entirely around Doncic rather than splitting the spotlight — however unequally — between two all-time level players.
What Happens Next for LeBron and the Lakers
He has been deliberately vague about retirement. Before the 2026 All-Star Game, he told reporters he had no idea what his future held and that he was simply focused on living and playing. That non-answer was an answer in itself — LeBron is not walking away just yet, and the Lakers know it.
Whether LeBron returns to Los Angeles or tests the open market this summer, the debate Chiney Ogwumike reignited on Wednesday morning is one the entire league will be watching closely. A 41-year-old averaging 22 points on 50 percent shooting while playing in his 23rd season is not a player you simply move on from. A cheat code does not expire — every team just has to decide if they still want to use it.
