A recent report supposedly shed light on why LeBron James joined the Los Angeles Lakers but the NBA legend is pushing back against it.
Ramona Shelburne of ESPN said one of the reasons James joined the Lakers in 2018 was because of how they treated Kobe Bryant during the final years of his career.
James wasn’t having it and hopped on X to set the record straight.
He wrote:
“🧢. I came to the Lakers cause I wanted to help Jeanie win championships, bring that Spark back to the Lakers and see my family blossom in SoCal. Why would I make a decision on how someone else is treated. Mama always said ‘Stay out of grown folks business’. 🤷🏾♂️”
🧢. I came to the Lakers cause I wanted to help Jeanie win championships, bring that Spark back to the Lakers and see my family blossom in SoCal. Why would I make a decision on how someone else is treated. Mama always said “Stay out of grown folks business”. 🤷🏾♂️ https://t.co/FsvTi5HqMU
— LeBron James (@KingJames) October 5, 2024
Shelburne’s report said James respected how the Lakers treated Bryant, who was no longer at the same level he once was.
As retirement approached, Bryant faced injuries and age but the team continued to play him in every game, pay him great sums of money, and treat him like the basketball royalty he was.
Perhaps James gave more thought to the Lakers because he knew it would likely be his last stop in the NBA.
He said that wasn’t the case and instead packed his bags and headed to Los Angeles because he thought he could help them win a championship and wanted to add some strong, productive energy to the team.
He also wanted a great place for his family to live.
James definitely achieved his goals because the Lakers won a championship, the team was reinvigorated, and his family is very happy in LA.
And, just like they did with Bryant, the Lakers are treating James very well as his retirement looms larger.
