In the world of the Lakers, very important decisions are on the horizon after their tough first-round elimination in the 2025 NBA Playoffs, and just after the secret meeting between Luka Doncic and general manager Rob Pelinka, LeBron James made an announcement.

Was it a coincidence or a cause and effect? The Los Angeles Lakers lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves 4-1 in the 2025 NBA Playoffs, and less than 24 hours later, Pelinka made it clear that they are going to build a team around Doncic.

‘We made a historic and significant move at the trade deadline by bringing Luka Doncic here. It’s incredibly exciting to have the promise that he is, and the future of our next decade of Lakers basketball, to be able to build a team around him and for him to be the centerpiece of our franchise,’ said Rob Pelinka.

With the premise on the table that they will build a team around Doncic, a secret meeting took place on May 2nd between the Slovenian point guard, Lakers coach JJ Redick, and GM Pelinka. They were dining together, and LeBron James was not present. The reason may have been revealed with the announcement made by ‘The King.’

LeBron’s first announcement after the secret meeting of the Los Angeles Lakers

LeBron got injured in the last game of the 2025 Playoffs. (Photo: Getty Images)

‘Unfortunately, due to the knee injury I sustained at the end of the season, I won’t be able to attend the Met Gala in New York tonight (May 5), as so many people have been asking and congratulating me. It’s such a shame to miss a historic event! My beautiful and powerful queen (wife) will be there, guarding the castle as she always does!’ LeBron announced on X.

Video: The secret meeting the Lakers had without LeBron James

After learning that LeBron couldn’t make big moves because he suffered a grade 2 medial collateral ligament sprain in his left knee, and perhaps that’s why he wasn’t present at the meeting between three heavyweights of the Los Angeles Lakers—Luka Doncic, JJ Redick, and Rob Pelinka—the video of that secret meeting started to rack up thousands of views.