Derek Fisher thinks many Los Angeles Lakers fans have already moved on from LeBron James. And his comments offer an insight into why the greatest player of the modern NBA was never fully accepted and didn’t receive the same unconditional love as other Lakers legends.
Appearing on Yahoo Sports Daily, Fisher admitted that he was taken aback by the reaction since LeBron decided not to return to Los Angeles.
“Like, a lot of people in L.A. didn’t love LeBron’s time here. It’s been confusing to me to see the reaction to him deciding not to return. A lot of people have celebrated it. It’s almost been like a parade, like it’s the greatest thing ever. I’m not saying it’s doomsday for the Lakers. I think the organization will be fine. It’s been around for 80 years. But I’m definitely surprised by some of the reaction. Yeah, I think a lot of fans have moved on.”
When asked why Lakers fans never embraced LeBron the same way they did Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, or Shaquille O’Neal, Fisher offered his thoughts.
“I think part of it is that when you look at the Lakers’ all-time greats, many of them were essentially born and raised as Lakers. You think about James Worthy, the No. 1 overall pick. You think about Magic Johnson. Even Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who was traded to Los Angeles, spent such a significant portion of his career here that he became part of the fabric of L.A. The same goes for so many other greats. Even Shaq. People almost forget he played in Orlando because his years with the Lakers defined him.”
“Then, of course, there’s Kobe spending 20 seasons in Los Angeles. I think those stars became who they were as Lakers. For a lot of Lakers fans, it was difficult to fully embrace the fact that LeBron was already LeBron before he ever got to Los Angeles.”
There is some truth to Fisher’s point. When LeBron came to the Lakers, he was already a four-time MVP, three-time champion, three-time Finals MVP, and was undoubtedly the best player of his generation. Unlike Magic or Kobe, his legacy was already established before wearing the purple and gold.
But LeBron deserved better from the Lakers organization and parts of its fan base.
Let’s rewind back to 2018.
The Lakers were not a hot destination at that time. They had missed the playoffs for five straight years and had little hope. No superstar or star wanted to come to the City of Angels. Meanwhile, LeBron could have gone anywhere. He could have stayed in Cleveland and built another championship roster. LeBron could have gone to any team in the league, and they would have cleared out the cap space to land him and build him a team.
But he chose the Lakers.
A year later, Anthony Davis arrived in a blockbuster trade and within two seasons, the Lakers were NBA champions again, ending a 10-year wait. LeBron had restored the Lakers as one of the premier franchises in the league.
Yet the relationship slowly started fading.
Much of the tension is reportedly due to the Russell Westbrook trade and its fallout. The two sides were never the same after this period, and the relationship kept falling apart.
The final chapter is the most shocking.
Reports revealed that the Lakers never sat down with LeBron before free agency to discuss his return. There were no discussions about a vision, no future plan on how they would build around Luka Doncic while keeping LeBron. This was a cold end for a player who got the Lakers a title and sacrificed by taking a smaller role after Luka arrived.
LeBron spent eight seasons carrying the franchise on his back and kept the team relevant despite years of roster instability and consistent failures by the front office.
His legacy in Los Angeles also continues to divide former Lakers players. While some legends like Metta Sandiford-Artest, Robert Horry, and Mychal Thompson have raved about his impact, many have questioned his legacy. Byron Scott suggested that his Lakers tenure hampered his legacy, while Olden Polynice argued that he isn’t among the top 10 players in franchise history, and Vlade Divac even left him outside his top five players of all time.
Whether fans have moved on remains questionable. But one thing is clear. LeBron might have brought the Lakers back to relevance, but he never was “one of their own.” For a player of his stature, it’s a shocking way for one of basketball’s most significant partnerships to end.
