LeBron James had an “internal conflict” during the 2025-26 season over how much he needed to defer to Austin Reaves, according to Law Murray. The issue came within a Lakers offense that also featured Luka Doncic as the clear primary option.
“Covering LeBron James last season, he had an internal conflict going on with how much he had to defer to Austin Reaves,” Murray reported. “Even Bron understood that Luka was the top dawg in any circumstance.”
The numbers illustrate why James faced a different offensive hierarchy in Los Angeles. Doncic averaged 33.5 points and 8.3 assists in 64 games, while Reaves averaged 23.3 points and 5.5 assists in 51 appearances.
James remained highly productive at age 41, averaging 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds in 60 games. He shot 51.5% from the field, although his 31.7% three-point shooting was his lowest mark since returning from his 2019-20 Achilles injury.
Murray said James was particularly satisfied when he could reclaim a larger offensive role in the postseason, including Los Angeles’ first-round series against Houston. The Lakers finished 53-29, fourth in the Western Conference, before being swept by Oklahoma City in the second round.
James’ role is now changing again after leaving Los Angeles for the Philadelphia 76ers. Philadelphia’s offense will pair him with Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid, while Jaylen Brown is also expected to play a significant offensive role.
Murray believes that structure could allow James to remain effective without requiring him to dominate the ball. “The ball is still going to be brought up primarily by Tyrese Maxey,” Murray said, noting that Maxey has experience sharing offensive responsibilities with other high-usage players.
Maxey previously played alongside Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid early in his career before spending two seasons with James Harden. He also shared the ball with rookie VJ Edgecombe during the 2025-26 season.
That history could make the transition to playing with James less complicated. Rather than asking James to function as Philadelphia’s traditional point guard, the Sixers can use his passing and half-court playmaking selectively while Maxey handles much of the initial ball advancement.
James averaged 7.2 assists last season, his highest mark since 2021-22, while committing 3.0 turnovers per game. His ability to create offense remains significant, but the Philadelphia setup could reduce the amount of time he needs to initiate every possession.
Murray said the potential is particularly important for Brown, because a shared playmaking structure could give all three stars opportunities to attack from advantageous positions. The Sixers will need regular-season repetitions to establish those roles before determining how the combination translates against playoff defenses.
