While the message of Rob Pelinka and JJ Redick’s press conference on Thursday was one of excitement for the future, it started out with a brief acknowledgment of the past.
LeBron James’ departure this offseason ended his eight-year tenure with the Lakers, the longest single stretch with any franchise in his career. As much as both sides may have been ready to move on, they still accomplished a lot during their time together in Los Angeles.
“I thought it would be appropriate, just at the front, to express
gratitude for the LeBron era here,” Pelinka said on Thursday. “Clearly new team, new players, and that’s what we’re going to talk about today, but we, just as an organization, are still grateful for the run that we had with him here. The Lakers have become, as they should, a perennial playoff team, won a championship, went to the Western Conference Finals, and it was a great era and we’re grateful for it.”
After a regular season which started rocky with LeBron on the sideline before he needed time to slot in as a third fiddle behind Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, the dynamic seemed to change a bit in the playoffs when LeBron showed his value once again.
There were also questions about who actually decided to end the partnership. When asked about that at his presser, Pelinka dodged the question while still praising LeBron.
“Again, we’re grateful for the LeBron era and I think the communications with him this offseason were held diplomatically and professionally and honestly,” Pelinka said. “I’m just so thankful for the partnership we had that continued up until this summer when a decision was made for him to play for another team. It was done amicably, professionally, gracefully.
And again, we looked at the whole thing with gratitude because it’s been an incredible era for us here.”
As for LeBron’s take, he spoke about his time with the Lakers on the latest episode of his Mind the Game podcast.
“A lot of people said when I came to the Lakers, like I was just coming to be in Hollywood and be in movies and shit like that. But I’ve always loved a huge challenge and to come to a historical franchise that has some of the greatest basketball players that we’ve ever seen in the history of sports, to be a part of that, one, was a super duper big thing…The expectations around here in Los Angeles when it comes to the Lakers is like, ‘Let’s win championships.‘ And I heard that and I understood that. For us to be able to win one, that was something that I’ll never forget. With that group, with that team, for this city.”
It’s not common for things to end amicably when LeBron leaves a franchise. All things considered, this is about as good as things could have gone.
LeBron will return to LA and get a loud ovation while the Lakers get to move onto a bright future with their new superstar. It’s a win-win for everyone.
You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.
