LeBron James is having a tough time at Crypto.com Arena right now, as the Los Angeles Lakers keep struggling to find their touch and play like the title contenders people believed they were before the start of the season.
The King has been unable to lead the Lakers to relive old glories, with everybody criticizing him and the rest of the team for underperforming. On Sunday night, many fans booed the players as they lost to the New Orleans Pelicans at home, marking a new low for this franchise.
Amid the Lakers crisis, many people are suggesting that LeBron leaves the franchise, while others believe that shipping him away won’t change anything for the Lakers.
In the middle of that, people have shown the receipts of words stated by LeBron or other people, including Kobe Bryant. Recently, Doug Gottlieb claimed that he had a conversation with Kobe when LeBron decided to join the Lakers. According to the analyst, Kobe didn’t believe that James could take the pressure of being in L.A. like he did (4:00)
“LeBron was coming to town. It was already done, and he (Kobe Bryant) said to me unequivocally, ‘LeBron does not get to know or understand LA and he’s not built for it the way I’m built for it’,” Doug said.
“I took negativity, and it fueled me. And when there was negativity with me and Shaq, it fueled me. It’s like that’s not what fuels LeBron. He’s just built different. He’s not the savage competitor that me and Mike are. Like I want to kill. I’m the type of killer that wants to kill you and your whole family. LeBron just wants to be loved. Wants to play ball, wants to win games. But he is not the killer that me and Mike are.”
This conversation allegedly took place four years ago, when LeBron joined the Purple and Gold. Unfortunately, Kobe isn’t around anymore to confirm or deny Doug’s words, or to offer some words of encouragement to LeBron, Anthony Davis, and co.
James was clearly unhappy when fans heckled the players following a loss to the Pelicans on Sunday. It’s time not only for him but the rest of the roster to take that anger and unleash it on the court. The Lakers can be eliminated from playoffs contention if the situation doesn’t improve, so this is a race against the clock.
