It’s been a struggle for LeBron James and the Lakers the past couple of seasons. But that doesn’t mean James is ready to bolt.
Just the opposite, it appears.
It may be true that James can be frustrated in a losing situation — or at least, what has been a mostly losing situation for a few seasons now. That’s based on his recent comments to Sam Amick of The Athletic. But there seems to be no indication that James will want to finish his career anywhere but LA, as discussed by ESPN’s Zach Lowe and Dave McMenamin.
“I keep hearing he wants to stay with the Lakers. He wants to finish his career with the Lakers,” Lowe said on The Lowe Post podcast, via RealGM. “His comments though should be interpreted as his patience is not infinite and if this is just a continued morass of losing, maybe that changes. But if you force me to bet, I’d still bet on him finishing his career with the Lakers. And I’d feel pretty confident in that.”
James has indicated that he’d like to play with son Bronny James, who becomes draft-eligible in the summer of 2024.
“I think if he had his druthers, he plays on the Lakers until he hangs it up,” McMenamin said. “Bronny James is (hypothetically) on the Lakers. And the Lakers are back in the playoffs every single season. I think that would be enough. It’s not championship or bust. It’s competitive basketball or bust. I think that’s his breaking point.”
Many have said James’ family wants to remain in Los Angeles, and that’s also another big reason he has no plans to leave.
The Lakers (19-22) are a half-game behind the Jazz for the 10th seed in the Western Conference and a spot in the play-in tournament.
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The trade deadline could have a big effect on how he feels about finishing with the Lakers. When he returned in 2016, he said he was here to finish his career with the Cavs but our owner and front office roster screw-ups helped push him away. We’ll see how he feels if the Lakers fail to upgrade the roster and they don’t make the playoffs with him playing so well.
On a sidenote, if Bronny goes to OSU, I am sure he wouldn’t mind seeing his youngest finish his H.S. days at Akron St. V.