LeBron James has dismissed a rumor regarding his decision to join the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018.
LeBron chose to clarify why he decided to join LA
LeBron James didn’t shy away from addressing an ESPN report that claimed his choice to join the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018 was influenced by how the team managed Kobe Bryant’s final years. The report emphasized the respect and care the Lakers showed Bryant during the latter part of his career, suggesting this was a significant factor in LeBron’s decision.
LeBron was quick to refute this claim. On Saturday, he responded on the social media platform X, using a “cap” emoji—a popular symbol for calling something false—and quoted a post from Legion Hoops regarding the reported reason behind his move to the Lakers.
For LeBron, his decision to join the Lakers was centered around restoring the team’s success and helping owner Jeanie Buss win championships.
“I came to the Lakers because I wanted to help Jeanie win championships, bring that spark back to the Lakers, and watch my family thrive in Southern California,” LeBron wrote, explaining his motivations. He dismissed the notion that his career decisions were influenced by how others were treated, adding, “Mama always said, ‘Stay out of grown folks’ business.'”
The report, written by ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, focused on the Lakers’ recent training camp under new head coach JJ Redick. It suggested that the Lakers’ care for Kobe Bryant in his final seasons had caught LeBron’s attention and contributed to his decision to move to Los Angeles.
The Lakers’ legacy with Kobe Bryant is undeniably remarkable, highlighted by his 20-year tenure with the franchise and his stunning final game, where he scored 60 points. After his retirement, the team honored him by retiring both of his jersey numbers—8 and 24—further cementing his place in the Lakers’ history.
For LeBron, however, his decision to wear the iconic purple and gold was driven more by his desire to restore the team’s winning tradition.
His determination to succeed with the Lakers has been clear, especially after leading them to a championship in 2020. Recently, he reaffirmed his commitment to the team by signing a two-year deal worth $101.35 million, even taking a slight pay cut to help with salary cap flexibility.
Notably, the report also mentioned that Lakers vice president Rob Pelinka sought advice from Mike Krzyzewski, a longtime friend of Bryant and former Team USA coach, on how to navigate the final phase of LeBron’s career. Krzyzewski’s guidance was centered on aligning LeBron’s legacy with the team’s objectives, but LeBron seems focused on crafting his own narrative, unaffected by how others have been treated.
Amid this conversation, James also addressed a different post from Legion Hoops. This post featured a video of an NBA broadcaster claiming that Russell Westbrook, who is now with the Nuggets, was unjustly scapegoated during his tenure with the Lakers.
As LeBron approaches 40, he is preparing to participate in the Lakers’ upcoming preseason game against the Suns. By firmly dismissing rumors regarding his motives, LeBron remains focused on his primary goal in Los Angeles: restoring the Lakers’ glory and leaving his own distinct legacy.
