Before NBA free agency even began, the Lakers received their biggest news of the summer: LeBron James will be playing for a different team next season. With the stage now set for the King’s epic conclusion, the Lakers can finally move on from their past to go all-in on Luka Doncic.
Before they can begin finding LeBron’s replacement, however, the Lakers made sure to pay respect to the guy who pulled them out of the gutter. In a short yet passionate statement, the franchise thanked LeBron for his nearly decade-long run and wished him well on all future endeavors.
“LeBron James is one of the greatest athletes in history,” wrote the Lakers in a public statement. “We will always be thankful for his eight years with the Lakers – including the title he led us to in 2020 under the toughest imaginable circumstances and the countless records he broke in Purple and Gold. We wish him all the best in the future, both on the court and off. He will always be a cherished member of the Lakers family.”
It’s no secret that LeBron had been growing increasingly frustrated with the front office, and his vision was clearly at odds with the Lakers’ roster-building plans. Nevertheless, LeBron had nothing but positive things to say in his goodbye message to the team. He even called it an “honor” to wear the iconic Purple and Gold.
“No, thank you,” responded James. “Truly an honor to wear the [Purple and Gold] while trying to continue the greatness and legacies that came before me! Hope I made a few proud during my stint.”
Being a Laker isn’t for everybody. It comes with a lot of pressure from the jump, and scrutiny follows for those who underperform. While James’ tenure was hardly perfect, he embraced what it means to be a Laker, and routinely put the team in a position to thrive over the competition.
In 479 games in Los Angeles, LeBron averaged 25.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, 7.9 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game on 51.3% shooting from the field and 35.6% shooting from three. He was an All-Star in each of his eight seasons, successfully leading the Lakers to the playoffs in six of them.
In franchise history, James will be remembered as one of the all-time greats, joining basketball icons like Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, and Magic Johnson. While he only delivered one title to the team, his arrival pulled them out of their darkest times in the post-Kobe era.
Going forward, only LeBron can say for sure what he has planned. Over the next few days and weeks, he will likely gather intel on interested parties to make a final decision, and he’ll have plenty of teams to choose from. Currently, the Heat, Cavaliers, and Warriors are the frontrunners for James, but it seems that nothing is off the table as he considers all possibilities.
The only things we know for sure are that LeBron James will be back next season, and that it will not be with the Lakers. Even so, the legacy he’s left behind there is nothing short of extraordinary, and it has left big shoes for Luka to fill.
