A nearly decade-long partnership came to an end on Tuesday morning with LeBron James telling the Lakers he would be moving on from the franchise in free agency.
While the writing was certainly on the wall, the news still brings a gut-punch with it. LeBron’s stint with the Lakers was longer than any single stint he had with either the Cavs or Heat.
As much as fans may have been ready to move into the Luka Dončić era, LeBron still will hold a spot among the Lakers legends. That sentiment was shared by
Jeanie Buss in a statement put out by the team on social media.
Here’s the statement in full:
“LeBron James is one of the greatest athletes in history. 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 part of the Lakers family.”
Had LeBron done nothing else with the Lakers after that 2020 championship, he still would have been cemented in the Lakers family. Considering everything surrounding that title, from the pandemic to the passing of Kobe Bryant, it felt like more than just another banner.
LeBron will certainly join the other Lakers legends in the rafters by having his jersey retired once his playing days are over. Even if some Lakers fans had a complicated relationship with him, he’s still one of the best to ever don the jersey and led the team to the mountaintop.
The LeBron era will be filled with lots of mixed feelings and the sense that more could have been accomplished, but at the end of the day, he’s absolutely a cherished part of the Lakers family.
You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.
