Speaking on The Dan Patrick Show, Shaquille O’Neal admitted he hesitates to label LeBron James a complementary player, yet believes the 40-year-old understands his career is in its final chapters and is adjusting accordingly.

O’Neal pointed out that James has always been a team-first star and is now more focused on integrating alongside Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves than dominating every possession.

Shaq stressed that all great players eventually reach a point where they must concede center stage, framing LeBron’s shift as a natural evolution rather than a demotion. Instead of chasing scoring titles, James is concentrating on playmaking, leadership, and picking his moments, trusting his younger teammates to shoulder the offensive burden.

From primary scorer to supercharged connector

James’ raw numbers show how different his role looks this season. He is averaging 17.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 7.2 assists while shooting efficiently, production that would headline most careers but now sits behind the fireworks of Doncic and Reaves. Doncic leads the league in scoring and usage, while Reaves is enjoying a breakout year above 27 points per game, leaving LeBron to amplify rather than overshadow them.

O’Neal praised James for letting “these guys cook,” arguing that his willingness to defer is exactly what gives Los Angeles its offensive ceiling. In many lineups, LeBron functions as a supercharged connector, toggling between point forward, secondary scorer, and back-line organizer depending on what the game demands.

What this means for the Lakers’ future

Shaq’s comments also highlight how delicate the Lakers’ hierarchy has become. Austin Reaves has been elevated to a clear top-two scoring option next to Doncic, and his production in games without LeBron has fueled debate about how long this version of the Big Three can stay together. Some analysts already speculate that the rise of Reaves and the dominance of Doncic could eventually push the franchise toward a post-LeBron timeline.

For now, O’Neal sees James embracing a veteran blueprint, using his IQ and presence to stabilize a group built around younger stars. If the arrangement holds, LeBron’s final act in Los Angeles may be remembered less for box score explosions and more for how he willingly shifted roles to keep the Lakers in contention.