Luka Doncic’s first season with the Lakers came with months of speculation about his relationship with LeBron James, fueled in part by reports that the two did not share the same close bond James had with many of his teammates. However, all those rumors took a backseat on Tuesday after James announced his departure from Los Angeles, prompting public messages from Doncic, Magic Johnson, and Lakers governor Jeanie Buss.

The Slovenian wrote on his Instagram story: “An honor to play with and learn from you @kingjames,” with a picture of the pair hugging.

Doncic previously voiced his desire to continue alongside James and Austin Reaves. The latter signed the richest deal for an undrafted player to remain in LA. ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reported on Tuesday that the team prepared a last-minute plan for next season, with Doncic and James in the picture, thanks to his contributions last season. But Rob Pelinka never received a response from the veteran, which is why they pivoted to their original plan of moving past James.

Doncic was not alone in paying tribute. Their teammate Jake LaRavia also responded to the news, writing on his Instagram: “Grateful for the opportunity to play alongside @kingjames,” accompanied by a GOAT emoji.

Magic Johnson, who played a major role in bringing James to the Lakers in the summer of 2018, tweeted his appreciation on X on Tuesday.

“I want to thank LeBron James and his super agent Rich Paul for taking a meeting with me back in 2018 when I was President of the Lakers and deciding to sign with us,” the five-time champion wrote. “He created a whole new era for the Lakers, including leading us to an NBA Championship in 2020 and all the milestones he surpassed in a Lakers jersey. I’ll always love and be grateful for him and wish him all the best in the next phase of his life, on and off the court!”

Johnson reportedly arranged a private meeting at James’ home on the night free agency officially opened on June 30, 2018. The three-time MVP was so concerned about violating the NBA’s anti-tampering rules that he said, “I made sure I was there an hour before the meeting. I was nervous.”

The Lakers had spent more than a year clearing salary-cap space and assembling young talent, while James was also drawn to the Lakers’ championship history. Johnson said he intended to involve James in personnel discussions, much like Jerry West and Jerry Buss had done with him during his playing days.

Things changed dramatically during James’ first season. On April 9, 2019, Johnson unexpectedly resigned as the Lakers’ president of basketball operations without first informing James. The Akron Hammer later called the situation “weird” on The Shop, saying he had joined the Lakers after Johnson explained the organization’s vision and told him the first year would be difficult as they rebuilt the franchise.

James said: “I came here to be a part of the Lakers organization, having a conversation with Magic and really kind of breaking it down and saying how we was gonna make this Showtime again.”

James and the franchise eventually moved past that and went on to win a championship in 2020. But the subsequent seasons weren’t easy. Earlier this year, major reports went viral about Jeanie Buss not agreeing with James’ presence and influence in the locker room. Both publicly denied the claims, but the feeling was that the Akron Hammer-LA fairytale was nearing its end, especially after the franchise shifted its focus to Doncic.

Minority Owner Jeanie Buss Joins in Wishing LeBron James a Farewell

Lakers team governor Jeanie Buss issued a public farewell message, thanking LeBron James for his contributions to the franchise. The statement came after the veteran’s agent, Rich Paul, confirmed that James intended to continue his career elsewhere while the Lakers shifted their long-term focus.

Buss wrote: “We are endlessly grateful for everything LeBron has done for the Lakers organization and the city of Los Angeles,” she wrote. “He helped bring another championship banner to our franchise, and his impact on this organization will be remembered for generations. We wish him nothing but the best in the future, both on and off the court. He will always be a beloved member of the Lakers family.”

The Lakers also had to decide on Bronny James’ future. He’s entering the third season of his four-year contract, with only $1,258,873 of $2,296,271 guaranteed. The Purple and Gold could have waived him by June 29, but chose not to and fully guaranteed his deal, keeping the rotation star on the roster.