Paul Pierce didn’t hold back when talking about the Lakers’ playoff collapse — and he says it’s time for a changing of the guard.
On a recent episode of FS1’s SPEAK, the Celtics legend and NBA analyst weighed in on the Lakers’ failed playoff run, and delivered a blunt message to the front office: move on from LeBron James.
“If the Lakers want to get back to being a championship contender… you have to get out of the constraints of the LeBron James era.”
According to Pierce, the Lakers’ longtime reliance on LeBron has turned into a liability — and if they’re serious about building a title-contending team around Luka Dončić, then the organization needs to make a tough decision.
Luka and LeBron Don’t Fit?
Pierce argued that the current roster construction simply can’t support both stars:
“You have to have a certain team around Luka to win. And with him and LeBron, you won’t be able to create that.”
The implication? LeBron and Luka’s skill sets clash, and keeping both may prevent the team from building a balanced, competitive roster.
Pierce even suggested the Lakers need to approach LeBron directly:
“They have to say, ‘Bron, we appreciate your services… I think we should move on.’ Tough conversation.”
The Big Picture
The Lakers finished the regular season with a strong 50–32 record, only to fall in five games to the Timberwolves. While LeBron and Luka put up solid numbers, the team lacked identity and cohesion — especially in the paint and on the defensive end.
Pierce isn’t alone in questioning the long-term viability of the LeBron-Luka pairing. Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal have both blasted the Lakers’ direction and cap situation, and now Pierce is saying what many in the fanbase are thinking: a clean break may be the only path forward.
A Fork in the Road
LeBron has a $52.6 million player option for next season. Luka is eligible for a max extension. And the Lakers, once again, are in the spotlight with big decisions looming.
According to Pierce, the writing is on the wall.
“It’s time for the Luka Era now.”
