The Los Angeles Lakers are entering a new era following LeBron James' decision to continue his NBA career elsewhere, ending one of the most successful chapters in franchise history.

While the organization now shifts its focus toward building around Luka Dončić, several Lakers players took to social media to thank James for the impact he made on and off the court during his time in Los Angeles.

James spent eight seasons with the Lakers, helping lead the franchise to the 2020 NBA championship while becoming the NBA's all-time leading scorer and earning many accolades with it.

Beyond his accomplishments, he was widely regarded as a mentor and leader inside the locker room, making his departure an emotional moment for many of his teammates.

Dončić shared a heartfelt message on Instagram after the news became official after his first full season with the Lakers and James.

Although the two stars didn't share the floor as much as they hoped, Dončić frequently spoke about how much he admired James throughout his career.

Their partnership gave fans a glimpse of what could have been one of the NBA's premier duos for years to come, but instead, it will be remembered as a brief chapter that helped bridge one era of Lakers basketball to the next.

Backup center (now free agent) Jaxson Hayes also reflected on his time playing alongside James. Having spent the past three seasons with the Lakers, Hayes thanked the future Hall of Famer for everything he brought to the team.

Jake LaRavia also shared his appreciation with James.

LaRavia signed with the Lakers last offseason and was a bench contributor in his first season in L.A. His role diminished toward the postseason but helped fill in for starters missing games, playing in all 82 games (43 starts) where he averaged 8.2 points.

Jarred Vanderbilt, another longtime teammate, kept his message short but meaningful.

Vanderbilt arrived in L.A. during the 2022-23 season and quickly became one of the Lakers' top perimeter defenders. Over the past several years, he and James battled through deep playoff runs and difficult stretches together, making his message a fitting farewell.

The responses from Dončić, Hayes, LaRavia and Vanderbilt reflect the respect James earned throughout his career. His influence extended far beyond his production on the court, helping shape the culture of the Lakers while mentoring teammates throughout his tenure.

As L.A. begins a new chapter centered around Dončić and Austin Reaves, the franchise moves forward knowing James leaves behind a lasting legacy. Judging by the reactions from his teammates, his impact inside the Lakers organization will not be forgotten.