LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers have been quite poor this season. Initially touted as favorites to win the NBA championship at the start of the season, the Lakers have vastly underdelivered during the course of this season. Some fans may have seen this coming, but LeBron James clearly didn’t
Somewhere near the start of the season, James issued a message to the skeptics and the haters who felt that the Lakers’ squad was too old and wouldn’t be able to compete for a championship as presently constructed. He told them to keep that same energy when they would find success in the season.
LeBron has a message to his haters. pic.twitter.com/M4evnDqcy9
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) August 4, 2021
Keep talking about my squad, our personnel ages, the way they play, we’re past our time in this league, etc etc etc!! Do me one favor PLEASE!!!! And I mean PLEASE!!!! Keep that same narrative energy what it begins. That’s all I ask. #ThankYou
And this weekend, 165 days after the original Tweet, LeBron actually issued an apology to the Los Angeles Lakers fanbase after their poor performance against the Denver Nuggets, a game that extended their losing streak to three games. James promised the fans that the Lakers would improve going forward.
#LakerNation I apologize and I promise we’ll be better! 👑💜💛
— LeBron James (@KingJames) January 17, 2022
165 days apart pic.twitter.com/mI5mQ4uvPh
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) January 17, 2022
#LakerNation I apologize and I promise we’ll be better!
It took just 165 days for LeBron to realize the poor form the Lakers had was not going to win them a championship. Perhaps this sudden shift in tone and approach from James spells good fortune for the Lakers, as the franchise is now hungry to prove that they can live up to the high expectations set of them.
The Lakers have to start putting together strong performances on a consistent basis if they have any chance to salvage the season. Russell Westbrook will be the player under the most pressure to improve, as it has been his performances that have been the most sub-par.