LeBron James Reportedly Unfollows Lakers After Learning Team Was Sold to Mark Walter Through Media, Not Informed Like Luka Dončić

The Los Angeles Lakers, one of the NBA’s most iconic franchises, are at the center of a stunning and potentially seismic controversy. According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the Lakers reportedly informed Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Dončić about the franchise’s pending sale to billionaire investor Mark Walter — but failed to provide the same courtesy to their own living legend and face of the franchise, LeBron James.

The fallout from that decision has been swift and dramatic. Multiple reports, confirmed by social media monitoring, show that LeBron James has unfollowed the Lakers’ official Instagram account. This subtle but unmistakable action has ignited widespread speculation about his future with the organization, his trust in ownership, and what comes next for the twilight of his legendary NBA career.

The reported timeline is just as jarring as the news itself. On June 18, the Buss family — long-time owners of the Lakers — agreed to sell a majority stake in the team to Mark Walter, the co-founder of Guggenheim Partners and co-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Lakers, who have always marketed themselves as more than just a team but rather a “family,” allegedly notified Dončić, a player on another team entirely, of the sale before LeBron James, a four-time NBA MVP and the franchise’s most influential player since Kobe Bryant.

The shocking part? Dončić even posted a congratulatory message to Walter on social media shortly after the sale was reported — a clear indication that he knew of the move in advance. LeBron James, however, made no such post. In fact, not only did he remain silent in the immediate aftermath, but insiders claim he was blindsided by the announcement, having learned about the ownership change at the same time as the general public.

Sources close to LeBron’s camp have described his reaction as “deeply disappointed,” even “betrayed.” James, who has carried the Lakers through a roller-coaster half-decade that included a 2020 NBA championship in the Orlando bubble and several years of playoff misses, had long emphasized trust and communication as crucial parts of any winning organization. That trust now appears fractured.

Unfollowing the Lakers’ social media account might seem like a small move to casual observers, but in the world of sports superstars — particularly LeBron, whose every digital action is closely watched — it’s a powerful statement. It’s a quiet rejection. It’s a subtle, yet unmistakable, signal: he’s hurt, and he’s watching.

To grasp the gravity of the situation, one has to consider the unique place LeBron James holds within the Lakers’ history. While Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kobe Bryant are eternal fixtures of the purple and gold legacy, LeBron came in with the weight of a fractured franchise on his shoulders. He delivered a long-awaited title. He turned young players into assets. He brought in Anthony Davis. He elevated the Lakers’ brand on and off the court during a highly uncertain era.

For LeBron to be kept in the dark on something as monumental as an ownership transition is, in many ways, unthinkable. Even in a league increasingly ruled by front-office decisions and corporate strategy, the best players — the true superstars — are kept in the loop. When Kevin Durant was traded to Phoenix, he knew about the discussions beforehand. When Giannis Antetokounmpo sat with ownership in Milwaukee, his concerns were addressed publicly. Even Stephen Curry, a player often averse to drama, is regularly consulted on decisions in Golden State.

And yet here is LeBron James — the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, one of the greatest players in basketball history — apparently left out of the loop, while a rival team’s player was kept informed.

The Lakers’ move to keep Dončić in the know has sparked numerous questions about internal politics and strategic maneuvering. Was Luka informed because of a potential future interest in luring him to Los Angeles post-LeBron? Was this a calculated chess move from the new ownership group, who may view Dončić as the next global face of the franchise? Or was this just a gross oversight, a communication failure that cost them credibility with their greatest active player?

Either way, the optics are disastrous.

The fallout could have significant implications. LeBron, who will turn 41 in December of the 2025-26 season, has a player option for that year. While he’s hinted at retirement on and off over the past few seasons, many close to the superstar believe he wants to finish his career on his own terms — and possibly with his son, Bronny James, now also an NBA player. If LeBron were to walk away from the Lakers after this season, or even demand a trade before it starts, the rift exposed by this ownership drama could be viewed as the final fracture.

It’s not just about ego — it’s about respect. After two decades of unparalleled excellence, James has earned the kind of respect that transcends contracts and stat sheets. Being left in the dark about an ownership change strikes at the core of that respect. For an organization that prides itself on honoring its greats — naming statues, retiring jerseys, telling stories of glory — this incident is a massive misstep.

Mark Walter, for his part, has not made any public statements about the situation. It’s possible that the notification to Dončić was part of a broader strategy to gather buy-in from marquee stars around the league, setting the tone for a new era of Lakers basketball. But if that’s the case, it was poorly executed. The first step of that new era has now alienated the man who built the bridge from post-Kobe mediocrity back to championship relevance.

The Lakers’ front office, now led by General Manager Rob Pelinka and under the guidance of Walter’s group, will have to perform significant damage control. Rebuilding trust with LeBron — if it’s even possible at this point — will require more than a phone call or a statement. It will require honesty, accountability, and a clear plan for how the franchise plans to compete at the highest level again.

This isn’t just a LeBron story. This is a Lakers story. A franchise known for drama, star power, and championship expectations is now again embroiled in off-court turmoil that threatens to overshadow its on-court potential. While fans may have gotten used to the circus, this situation feels different. This is about legacy. This is about betrayal. And above all, this is about the clock — a ticking reminder that LeBron James won’t play forever, and every misstep is a missed opportunity.

If the Lakers wanted to turn the page into a new chapter under new ownership, they may have just written the worst possible first sentence.

LeBron James has spoken volumes without saying a word. The question now is: will the Lakers respond — or will they let the silence linger?

Only time will tell. But in Hollywood, even silence makes noise.