LeBron James’ postgame press conference after the Los Angeles Lakers’ ugly 112-98 loss to the Miami Heat had fans debating whether the superstar would look to find a new franchise next summer.
The Lakers have been inconsistent at best this season, and aren’t even close to making the play-in tournament. They’re 14-21 and placed 13th in the West. The side’s chances of extending their good run ended when Anthony Davis was ruled out indefinitely after sustaining a stress fracture against the Denver Nuggets earlier this month.
Since then, LeBron James has been the only player doing the bulk of the damage while the rest of the roster has chipped in with the occasional glimpse of brilliance.
Social media and discussion forums were buzzing with speculations of James opting out after Silver Screen And Roll’s Anthony Irwin shared his thoughts on the Lakers’ front office and their relationship with James.
The Lakers have made it clear the only way they are interested in building is through starpower. But if this is how you're treating the biggest star of his generation, and it's a really small world at that level of the NBA… Yeah. This is potentially devastating for the brand.
— Anthony F. Irwin (@AnthonyIrwinLA) December 29, 2022
I cannot possibly exaggerate how thoroughly the Lakers might be tanking their future endeavors with how things are ending between them and LeBron/Klutch.
The Lakers have made it clear the only way they are interested in building is through starpower. But if this is how you’re treating the biggest star of his generation, and it’s a really small world at that level of the NBA… Yeah. This is potentially devastating for the brand.
The analyst outlined that the Lakers’ front office’s reluctance to keep their biggest star happy and give him and themselves a shot at winning would pretty much see the end of the relationship between the two parties.
NBA Fans React To LeBron James Potentially Leaving The Lakers In The Summer
It might not be the news Lakers fans will want to hear, but the team’s run this season and the increasing pressure on James to lead a poorly constructed roster to win a championship will perhaps see him make the move of leaving the franchise.
Earlier, the 37-year-old had spoken about not ending his decorated career by playing for a franchise. According to LA Times’ Dan Woike:
LeBron James postgame made it clear that he's not willing to end his career playing meaningless basketball, that he again wants to compete for championships. As of today, the Lakers are seven games under .500.
— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) December 29, 2022
LeBron James postgame made it clear that he’s not willing to end his career playing meaningless basketball, that he again wants to compete for championships. As of today, the Lakers are seven games under .500.
Here’s what Lakers fans had to say:
No star will wanna play for this team again as long as @JeanieBuss is in charge https://t.co/akoI1npC9c
— $mokegawd urameshi 💨 (@smokegawd3000) December 29, 2022
treating him by giving him nearly $50M/yr and allowing him to dictate moves which (along w bad luck) got them to this point? there’s only two teams in LA they’ll be fine eventually https://t.co/lBBU2STpKH
— Rich Homie Qwanza (@ScrausScraus) December 29, 2022
Not to mention they already have CAA that basically hates them https://t.co/9U7fo7NAJt
— Kareem (@Kareem_is_it) December 29, 2022
Cleveland and Miami are doing ok and the Lakers future without Klutch and LeBron will be just fine 😂 https://t.co/kBgSQLcIdh
— Arshak kirakosyan (@Shaqk311) December 29, 2022
It's going to be so bad. Which will further my agenda about why being a fan of teams instead of individual players makes no sense. https://t.co/9aFEBVO7Lo
— @black (@BlackBookClub1) December 29, 2022
Good luck ever getting a superstar to sign with the lakers again in free agency Atleast not this generation of players insane how they have failed one of the 2 greatest players ever
— Rob (@Rob36113633) December 29, 2022
https://twitter.com/NastyWood75/status/1608328170306154496
Sad for Bron. Worried about Lakers future as I have zero confidence in Jeanie, Rob and Ham.
— Purple Gold Forever 👑 (@CL830_Lakers) December 29, 2022
https://twitter.com/theregem/status/1608314143605653505
Yeah future stars gon see you got 2 top 10 and can’t even contend with them and think well if they could only win 1 ring why would they win with me?
— delusionallakerfan (@justanaccount8) December 29, 2022
Much of James’ future in LA depends on the moves the front office will make during the trade window. There have been reports of the side talking to multiple franchises, but only time will tell if they can indeed land a player or two that gives James a reason to stay.
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