LeBron James has decided to part ways with the Lakers after spending eight seasons with the team, indicating he will become a free agent and sign with a different franchise.
The respect between James and the Lakers has been evident since the news broke, but it’s clear that their relationship wasn’t without its issues. If things were entirely harmonious, he might have chosen to remain in Los Angeles to cap off his NBA career there.
Curiously, attention turns to when the rift between James and the Lakers began. According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, a significant “disconnect” arose following the trade of Russell Westbrook after the underwhelming 2021-22 season, and things never really got back on track.
The Lakers moved Westbrook in July 2021, dealing away Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Montrezl Harrell, and a first-round draft pick to acquire him from the Wizards.
Initially, James, along with Anthony Davis, believed Westbrook could help revitalize the Lakers’ chances at contention after a playoff exit in 2021, but that vision didn’t materialize.
Unfortunately, Westbrook didn’t perform as expected during his time in LA. His offensive struggles and high turnover rate often put him in the spotlight for criticism, particularly as the Lakers ended the 2021-22 season with a disappointing 33-49 record and did not make the playoffs.
For the 2022-23 season, Westbrook began coming off the bench, which improved the situation somewhat, but the expected chemistry with James simply didn’t develop. He was ultimately traded to the Jazz in February 2023.
In January, Jeanie Buss, the Lakers’ president and controlling owner, expressed frustration about the team’s apparent effort to cater to James while feeling he didn’t fully own up to the failed Westbrook trade.
It seems that even after all this time in LA, LeBron’s frustrations might still linger.
