Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers - Is There Still Tension Between LeBron James and the Lakers? What Happens Next?

Starting point is 00:00:00 The Lakers season finishes kind of how it started with intrigue about the relationship between LeBron and the franchise. That's next. You are Locked-on Lakers. Your daily Los Angeles Lakers podcast, part of the Locked-on Podcast Network, your team every day. Thanks to everybody for stopping by Locked on Lakers, Brian Komenetsky, Andy Kaminetsky, plenty to get into as we put the 2025-26 season to bed.

Starting point is 00:00:35 And today, Andy, it seems like the story of LeBron James has kind of inserted itself in ways that we didn't necessarily anticipate, at least for today, with a flurry of stories, most notably from Dave McMenem and ESPN, just looking at the, taking a look at the relationship between LeBron and the Lakers and kind of evaluating the potential for his return. Dave's story having the most, I think, interesting little nuggets about the way this played out over the course of the year. Certainly the weirdest nuggets, if nothing else. So strange. But in some ways, Andy, like I said, in the open, like we kind of are back where we started, which is people speculating about whether or not LeBron will be back. It's time, as always, for a LeBron conversation.

Starting point is 00:01:31 And it seems like the LeBronversation, it never ends. It's never resolved and kind of fitting to what we're going to get into for roughly the last, I'd say, five to six years between LeBron and the organization. It's never felt on fully solid ground in terms of the relationship. It's had its ups and downs. They've often been well reported. We've talked a lot. about how it has felt for quite a while.

Starting point is 00:02:04 Like there are degrees of tension varying between LeBron and the Lakers. Neither one of us have ever thought that it is ugly. I personally still don't think it is ugly. I think it is in a lot of ways. If you've been in any relationship for a long time, whether you're talking about a work relationship, your significant other family, certain friends,

Starting point is 00:02:29 like- Exactly, exactly. Like things come up and you work and you work through them, but you don't always forget everything. And because human beings are often wired not to totally forget everything, those instances of conflict or annoyance or aggravation, they can linger with you. And I think in the case of both LeBron and the Lakers, they often are maybe even looking for reasons to feel a certain way. And as we're going to get into with a couple of these details, if nothing else, one of them feels to me like LeBron looking to be slighted.

Starting point is 00:03:18 Yeah. I think a lot of things here. The first and foremost, what I think is something that I've pointed out a few different times when we talk about LeBron, when we talk about his future, when we talk about his time with the Lakers, we talk about any of this stuff. Nobody, including the LeBron or the Lakers, or the larger NBA community,

Starting point is 00:03:44 expected the Lakers and LeBron James to still be doing this this many years after LeBron signed in L.A. There was a 0% chance that people thought, as LeBron heads into what I'm assuming will be his 42nd, you know, the season that, you know, with his 42nd birthday in it, that we would still be having the conversation about. I thought you were going to say 40 second season and that sounded wrong, but I still had the check in my head. I'm like, I don't think he's played 42 years, but like his year 42 season is what I was trying to search for. They taught you, you know, it was in year

Starting point is 00:04:20 27. He was year 42 season that they would still be doing this. And so that in and of itself, just creates complexities. I don't think anybody really considered when LeBron signed that there's going to come a time where they're going to replace him with a younger star and he's still going to be playing in ways it did. And like, there's a combination here of kind of just relatively normal stuff, whether you're talking about normal for stars and teams,

Starting point is 00:05:00 whether you're talking about the just sort of normal way that people talk about LeBron and look at LeBron, the normal desire for there to be stories around LeBron, the normal desire of Team LeBron to kind of be part of the story. There's a lot of stuff that's just kind of normal that's going on here. But the situation is awkward. Like when they traded for Luca, I mean, the whole thing reminds me of Toy story. Like LeBron is Andy, you know, Tom Hanks, the cowboy, Andy. And Buzz Lightyear is the shiny new toy for the franchise. That's Luca. You know, they made five, what, five movies? That's

Starting point is 00:05:48 that rose out of that basic tension between old discarded toy and new, new popular one. Like, the dynamics here are both very very. normal and kind of unexpected. Well, they're not normal for LeBron, though. I mean, that's like the really, the thing that can't be overlooked, this is the first time in LeBron's career, because he has been really, really successful at manipulating outcomes the way he wants and having the exit strategy for whatever team that he wants.

Starting point is 00:06:27 And whether he goes from Cleveland to Miami, then Miami back to Cleveland, Cleveland to the Lakers, he's always been the guy because he's so damn good and so popular and a legitimate icon. He has been able to bend the will of whatever team to get whatever he want. This is the first time in his entire career, probably since he's ever picked up a basketball and been a part of a team, that the team has had an exit ramp before he had one. Like the Lakers at this,

Starting point is 00:07:05 we're going to talk about this. Neither one of us thinks that it's anything close to a certainty that LeBron won't be back next year or that the Lakers don't want him back. I agree with better. I think the odds are that he will be back next year. Right. But the Lakers have an off-ramp in Luka.

Starting point is 00:07:25 that no matter what happens with LeBron, LeBron stays, LeBron leaves, whatever. They have the off-ramp with Luca. And this is the first time in LeBron's career where he has not been able to get to an off-ramp before his team does. And this is really uncertain territory for him. He's never experienced this before. The other part of that that I think is significant is it's also the first. time that he has, you know, the team has an off-ramp. And there's no obvious on-ramp somewhere else.

Starting point is 00:08:04 He's reached a point in his career where playing for, you know, max contract. Like, I demand the full value of my full, you know, full payment for my value as both a player on the floor, but everything I bring to you by my presence. That is not a choice for him at this point because there isn't an NBA team that can pay him $45 or $50 million next year that he would actually want to play for. Like, you know, the bulls can do it. The nets can do it. In Dave's story, it actually does point out that LeBron, according to sources, is not interested in playing for those teams. I never would have guessed. So the teams that are good, the places that you could picture him, L.A., other L.A. even, both L.A. teams, the Golden State Warriors, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the New York Knicks, none of these teams are going to be able to or be willing to offer him $50 million or even $40 million. dollars to play for them.

Starting point is 00:09:25 So if he wants to play next year, and I think I'm expecting that he will, although it's not a guarantee, it's both about the location. It becomes about the money. It becomes one of the things in Dave's story that I thought was interesting is like it kind of implies and sets up that like team LeBron understands, you know, pay cuts coming. but like if you want LeBron to take less like what is your offer and why is your offer like the why matters here what are you doing with that money

Starting point is 00:09:59 what are you also are you putting around the team with Luca is I don't think I don't think LeBron objects to the notion of being you know second fiddle so to speak to Luca because I think there isn't he's talked about himself this season as third fiddle behind Luca and Austin

Starting point is 00:10:20 I mean, his words, not ours. Right. And by the way, played that role to his credit. But next, you know, we can get into both the stuff that's in Dave's story, but also kind of reflect on that's again, true no matter where he goes. If he goes to San Francisco, that's still going to be Steph Squad. If he goes to Cleveland, it's Donovan Mitchell and Evan Moble. Like, he's still going to be LeBron.

Starting point is 00:10:51 I don't know if I agree with that. He's still going to be LeBron, but he's not going to be the best player on the team. Sure. Anywhere he wants to play, anywhere that could win him a title on his way out the door, he's almost surely not going to be the best player on the team. And the relationship sort of how the Lakers treat that, how they've treated LeBron, how they, turn the thing into Lucas franchise and where LeBron fits into it is all a key part of Dave's story

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Starting point is 00:14:03 is he better than AR, is he not? But he's certainly not better than Luca. And he's not going to be the focal point of the team and the franchise in the way that Luca is. If he goes to San Francisco, you know, maybe he becomes one of the best players on that team. It's Steph, it's Drameau. They're not going to win a title.

Starting point is 00:14:18 Like that team's not going to be nearly as competitive as the one he could play here. you go to play you go to the Warriors because you kind of just want to play with Steph before the end of your career because the Knicks it's still going to be a team built around Jalen Brunson

Starting point is 00:14:32 as your primary offensive weapon and things like that the calves are still going to be built around Donovan Mitchell because nobody is kind of gutting their roster or clearing things out for a season of LeBron to max

Starting point is 00:14:46 so that part of his career like you know he he did the thing and you know he's talked talked about it in his exit interviews he talked about it throughout the season where he was asked to take a different role j jay reddick praised him rightly so for for taking this role and accepting it and thriving in it but the way he did and it's one of the things i think is so funny about this is like for all these sort of off court like eye rolling and perceived slights on each side and annoyances from LeBron towards the Lakers and the Lakers toward LeBron.

Starting point is 00:15:25 Everybody in terms of the on-court kind of professional relationship has actually behaved quite well. Like, you know, I think that part of it has gone well. It's just the ego massaging that has been awkward, which is, you know, gets to some of the stories in Dave's article. Yeah, I was going to say this leads us to game ballgate, which has been, I think, the most discussed part of Dave's piece for ESPN. It references a March 31st win over the Cavaliers,

Starting point is 00:15:58 which obviously anything involving the Cavs is going to have an emotional connection to LeBron, but it also closed out that 16 and 2 March where the Lakers were legit, one of the hottest teams in the league. They were starting to look like, if not true championship contenders, a team that could go a few rounds

Starting point is 00:16:17 that you would not want to necessarily face in the playoffs. And no small part of that was LeBron taking on this different role, wrapping his arms around it and exceeding at it and, you know, really excelling and doing a really good job. But that night, that particular game, which the Lakers won, was the 1,229th of LeBron's regular season and postseason career, that number of wins. The number of wins, yes. Right. the number of wins, meaning that he passed Kareem for the most regular season and

Starting point is 00:16:53 playoff combined wins in NBA history. It also happened a night where Luca hit 15,000 career points, Rui hit 5,000. So a lot of milestones being celebrated, and JJ is calling out everybody. He begins with Rui, big applause, then Luca, big applause, then starts talking about LeBron. then Rob actually announces that the game ball is going to be going to JJ, who happened to hit Career Win 100 that night as a coach. They had obviously planned for this. There was a presentation, like a video presentation involving LeBron's,

Starting point is 00:17:34 excuse me, JJ's kids, congratulating dad. Congratulations, down. LeBron's kids would be weird considering one of them was right there. Yeah, yeah, I'd like to think. Brony can just congratulate JJ on his own. In person. I'm sure. Well,

Starting point is 00:17:47 I'm sure Bryce and got a little video. It was a cute little video that Brony cut while sitting. Yes. Eight feet away. He had a lot of time in that game. But anyway, from the piece, quote,

Starting point is 00:17:58 but James, who played the last eight seasons in Los Angeles, helped deliver the franchise of 17th championship in 2020, saw Polinka's priority in that moment as yet another example of the Lakers taking him for granted, sources said. Adding to James's I are, sources said was the fact that the past dozen or so wins in that stretch came with James

Starting point is 00:18:18 willingly taking a supporting offensive role behind Donchich and Austin Reeves. It was nearly an unprecedented move. And then later on in the piece, it says, quote, and so without even stopping to change clothes, James marched off into the LA night, simmering into another perceived indignation delivered by the organization that, as one source close to him, told ESPN, tried to push him out the door after acquiring Donchich last season. I saw Dave actually on Rich Eisen's show earlier today, and he said, like, there were actual ice packs on LeBron's knees as he was walking out of the crypt. And, you know, obviously, I mean, there's video circulating of this because the Lakers in the

Starting point is 00:19:00 moment thought this was a really nice thing, didn't realize it would come back to be controversial. So you can see Rob stepping a bit on the moment for LeBron. Like there isn't, unless it's just bad editing. from the video department, there's not much space in between JJ talking about LeBron, celebrating LeBron, all of a sudden Rob immediately shifts it to JJ. Right. And there was, you know, there were a couple other things and they kind of got to LeBron by sort of J.J.J. was sort of building.

Starting point is 00:19:30 Right. Exactly. And obviously, you know, just state the obvious. There's no way this was intentional by Rob. There is zero upside to doing that. that, like something intentionally disrespectful to LeBron. There's zero upside to doing that at that time, as the Lakers were rolling, with a player of LeBron's stature, who, by the way, instrumental in the way they were playing, and to also drag JJ into it, like, you're essentially using JJ as a prop to try to

Starting point is 00:20:05 disrespect LeBron. Like, I refuse to believe Rob did this intentionally. Like there is no reason whatsoever. And this is what I'm talking about when I say there may be legit reasons. I'm sure there are legit reasons that LeBron feels like he's been taken for granted over the years with the Lakers. I think some of them probably are more legit than others. But I'm sure there are legit ones that exist. This feels like looking for a slight though.

Starting point is 00:20:36 Yeah, but I think when I read this part of the. story. What I took it to mean is one of those situations where the thing that sort of, whether it puts it over the edge, however you want to describe it, because nothing happened, nothing came of this, which is I, you know, before we're done, I kind of want to talk about one of the things that I find so interesting about this moment in time that we're in with LeBron and the franchise. It's not, it's never the thing. It's always the things that lead up to the thing. And then like, the last thing everybody looks at and goes like, wait a minute, now you're mad. Like, I remember, you know, Anthony Dave. And he may not be mad now just so it's clear. He may not be mad anymore. Right. In the

Starting point is 00:21:26 moment, you know, he was, he was clearly like, and this, Dave, Dave, this was not Dave working through sources. This is like Dave said, like, I remember, you know, I, I heard the same interview with Rich. Like, Dave saw him walk out of the locker room. He watched LeBron walk by with the ice packs and all that stuff. It was in the same way, you know, Anthony Davis felt slighted, you know, felt the organization didn't take some of his requests and stuff like that seriously. As soon as Luca got there, then all of a sudden they're wheeling, dealing, looking for centers and trading first round picks and all that.

Starting point is 00:22:06 The point isn't who's right and who's wrong. But my point is that these are. are part of sort of the dynamics that build up between stars and franchises, where it's a thousand little things. And particularly for LeBron, who was still here after the Luca deal, it's a very unique position to be in. And the franchise immediately pivoted,

Starting point is 00:22:30 well, I mean, the franchise had already pivoted away from like, we have to appease LeBron at all costs. That was the beginning of the season. LeBron didn't get, you know, all this sense. He picked up the option.

Starting point is 00:22:42 The Lakers say they didn't offer it and Rich Paul said they didn't ask and I think it's true that they reportedly. Nobody's said this. Right. Reported. Well, Rich Paul, no, Rich Paul has said. Well, the Lakers. The Lakers have not.

Starting point is 00:22:58 But everybody I think did it be, you know, Rich Ball they maybe didn't ask because they knew what the answer was going to be. So they didn't want to be turned down and saves everybody face. But that transition, the Lakers

Starting point is 00:23:14 very much like the, you know, they went ham on this is Lucas franchise, we love Luca, Luca, Luca is the future and all that stuff. And, you know, LeBron's still here doing things. And I'll tell you next, what I think is so, I think, probably annoyed LeBron. And if there is a place where he feels like a little respect is still deserved where it came.

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Starting point is 00:26:10 So let Rocket Money help you reach your financial goals. faster, join at rocketmoney.com slash locked on. That's rocketmoney.com slash locked on. I think, you know, the part that if you're LeBron, as they, you know, to kind of circle back to what we talked about in the first second, like, why, I can, I know there are fans who cares if LeBron like gets an explanation? LeBron doesn't, you know, the Lakers don't owe LeBron anything for it's like, you know, here's the number we're offering, take it or leave it. And if you don't like it, Godspeed. And okay, but it is one of the things that Dave's story points out is that in this time

Starting point is 00:26:57 when LeBron not just sort of willingly took a backseat to Luca and I think to Austin in terms of the offense over the course of the season. And LeBron's been giving away kind of that, trying to cede some of that job since Anthony Davis was here. Like he tried to do it for AD and AD wasn't consistent enough about taking that. But when they needed LeBron, whether it's in that 16 and 2 stretch that they had, after guys got hurt in the first round of the playoffs, LeBron put up numbers. Like LeBron was, you know, he turned to, he played the role that they needed him to play

Starting point is 00:27:35 and put up really good numbers in doing it. And then when they needed him to play a bigger role again, he went back and he did the same thing. And so I think I don't know exactly what that looks like, but I feel like there's, I think he just wants some acknowledgement of the level at which he played and the sort of the sacrifice and the flexibility and the professionalism that he showed. Would you agree? I think the Lakers probably think they've done that for him. I guarantee. There's a, there's clearly a gap between perception and perception. But this is what I'm talking about when I say that when you're in a relationship long enough,

Starting point is 00:28:25 and particularly if it is a relationship that in some respects has run its course. Like I'm not saying that the relationship has run its course in terms of all functionality and utility, because we saw last season that month where that I was called it, the usage hierarchy was established between Luca and Austin and LeBron, and LeBron's role was not just tailored for that hierarchy, but frankly, and this is a part that I do think LeBron needs to remember, it was tailored better for him at this stage of his career. Like it wasn't LeBron just sacrificing,

Starting point is 00:29:03 even though he definitely could do more, but he's just, this was better for LeBron. And I think that part matters too. Like this was not LeBron sacrificing out of no need whatsoever. And I don't mean just need for the team. I mean need for himself. This was a better role for LeBron. He excelled at it.

Starting point is 00:29:24 He was really good in it. Like that part does matter. And the fact that he really leaned into it matters and he should be commended for it, like sincerely. but it was also in his best interest as well. But again, this feels a lot like looking for reasons in some respects to be offended. Because at least, I mean, I can't speak to what they say to LeBron or how they do or don't talk to him inside the building. I know, I mean, not just JJ, but Rob and the organization, they've praised the hell out of LeBron for doing this stuff.

Starting point is 00:30:01 They may not, he may not have gotten the game ball after that, you know, that one win over the cabs, but they've celebrated a lot of milestones for LeBron. Now, this piece from Dave that if accurate, I will say on LeBron's behalf, this feels like disrespect. And it relates back to what you were talking about with like the number that they offer LeBron and it needs to be explained with a clear reasoning and clear path forward. so LeBron understands what it would be. Apparently, there was some degree of outsourcing and group think going on

Starting point is 00:30:39 in trying to figure out what LeBron is worth, quote from Dave's piece. As the season played out, Lakers officials would on occasion partake in a parlor game of sorts during games at crypto.com arena, sources told ESPN, an onlooker was asked to observe James play for a stretch, disregard his name and age, and evaluate his play. to come up with a salary number that, quote, anonymous player would deserve next season. It was their attempt to gauge a fair market price for James's service, the full mid-level of $14.1 million, $20 million, $25 million, $30 million.

Starting point is 00:31:18 Like, first of all, I really need to know who these onlookers were. Like, hey, Diane Cannon, you know, you've been going to games for a long time. You've had pretty good seats. We're on a question by him. Pay really close attention to LeBron during the first half. And then we want to circle back. We want to run something past you. It's insane.

Starting point is 00:31:39 When you fill out the surveys about like how clean was the concourse, did you like the food? Also, how much do you think anonymous player number 23 should actually be worse? If accurate, and Dave's pretty plugged in, that is insane. And I absolutely understand if LeBron is up there. by that. Yeah. That is offensive. And I would want to know.

Starting point is 00:32:05 That one was like, I never am doubting the people who are doing the reporting here. But like, you know, I have questions. But like also to the idea, the very notion that you can watch LeBron James and just pretend he's not LeBron James. Like I'm just going to anonymize the best players. He's LeBron James. You can't do that game where you just pretend he's like a regular guy. Look at the name on the front of the jersey, not the back. Right.

Starting point is 00:32:34 But then you can see his face, which looks like LeBron James. The whole thing is just so strange. No, the worst part is they're going to get a number. They're like, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Can you think it over and come up with something a little lower? Right, then they go back to a different fan. Try the exercise again. What would be for a different onlooker who thinks more like us?

Starting point is 00:32:53 How many times do they do this, all this stuff? But like these two things become clear. And, you know, if you can respond and we can quit. We'll pick this up a lot over the course until there's a resolution. First, like you say, this is sort of the the functioning of a relationship that was always more transactional than it was built on deep love. Absolutely. Tons and tons of respect. Love for the city.

Starting point is 00:33:23 LeBron and his family love it in Los Angeles. But this is always been to some degree of marriage of convenience. Sure. And that's fine. Mutually. Right. It doesn't have to be this love story. So this is part of it. But the second, the part that really stuck out to me, and now maybe you disagree, on a scale of like la drama, two decades of this, you know, over the course of time. And I tend to think LeBron has been a relatively low drama player in the grand scheme of things.

Starting point is 00:33:57 He's not a lot of bad stuff. There's not been a lot of the controversy around LeBron is generated for the sake of generating controversy because he's LeBron. I mean, there are very few genuine missteps and the biggest is probably the decision. If that's the biggest misstep of a basically 20 years ago at this point. But I mean, if that's the biggest misstep of a 23 year career to say nothing of the time you were famous as a high schooler, right that's I mean that's astonishing if one of the most stunning that should get you into the Hall of Fame career that should get you into the Hall of Fame just alone yeah I agree but part of the reason that I think this is one of these stories that you look at

Starting point is 00:34:39 and you're like this ultimately ends with probably LeBron ending up I would say or at the very least the odds favoring LeBron ending up here because the Lakers can still offer him the best combination of staying near his family, playing on a competitive team, playing for a decent enough number that would be competitive with the other good teams that would want his services, and sort of adding on to these other things. This is, to me, the stuff that we're coming up here with, or that is in these stories, that is creating the headlines that has Dave on Rich Eisen, it. And, you know, was this, you know, talk radio was talking about this. It was all over NBA social media. You know, is such low-level LeBron drama in the grand scheme of things. Being offended by game balls.

Starting point is 00:35:34 Like, there's no talk of the relationship between the teams being able. The piece ends with the quotes from Rob and, and then we said, we totally want LeBron to come back or willing to. If he wants to play and wants to come back, we can do this. Except... LeBron talks about the lack of... I forget the exact word. It wasn't static. I think it was the word static. No, no, but it's what he said, though. He said no static from me.

Starting point is 00:36:03 Right. That's telling. I don't... No. It's potentially telling. It is, I guess. If you are interpreted, it's like he... I interpret that in the same way as when Rob says, you know,

Starting point is 00:36:18 do you want to come in? Well, this is a LeBron. decision. We have to lay. You could look at that as we don't want to commit to LeBron because we're really trying to shove him out the door. Or you can look at it as we're not going to get ahead of LeBron. And there's a lot of,

Starting point is 00:36:32 there's a lot of stuff we need to work out with the money. There's stuff that we need to work out with the time. But all things being equal, if he's comfortable coming back and we're comfortable coming back, we'd love him to come back. That's how I read no static for me. Like, hey, I'm fine. If they're cool, I'm cool.

Starting point is 00:36:48 But here's the difference, though. It's not the first time that LeBron has in one way or another had to comment on pieces about his bad relationship with the Lakers or the Lakers feeling bad about him. Remember earlier in the season. But where are we? Will there always result in him still being here? I'm not saying that this will lead to him not being here. I'm saying I don't think they're the same things. I think LeBron phrasing is no static from me in the context of what had been talked about,

Starting point is 00:37:23 I think is a little bit different than what Rob was saying during the exit interviews. Different doesn't necessarily have to mean bad or problematic. I just think it's different. Okay. But if it's different, it's different. But it doesn't seem like it's different to the point that the actual working relationship, This stuff that really matters about whether or not the Lakers, who, by the way, for all the people chasing LeBron out the door, it's like, I have no objection to if like if you can find younger, better pieces that you can commit to long term with whatever money that you would then give to LeBron James, you know, however the math works out. If you can do that, I'm all for letting LeBron go. But if you do, if you do, if you do let it's not going to be easy, by the way, but if you do let LeBron go, you have to remember you're letting 21.

Starting point is 00:38:14 seven and seven go out the door of 51% shooting and a lot of the intangibles that you want to be able to lean on you know in in big moments in big games through injury and all that kind of stuff so be I sort of be careful what you wish for but if it's different it's different but if it doesn't result in any functional difference in the working relationship if it doesn't mean that the Lakers really are trying to shove LeBron out or LeBron is desperately trying to escape, then I don't see the issue. It's still interesting and it's still worth reporting. And it's not making stuff up or sensationalizing it for the sake of it.

Starting point is 00:38:58 It's a real story. But to me, it just feels like pretty low burn stuff that isn't that much, really isn't any different than the stuff we've been getting between LeBron. in the franchise since he arrived here. And I actually take that as a relatively good sign for both parties if it's in everybody's best interest for him to come back. Everybody's best interest or what they may ultimately land on. And I'm sure we're going to end up talking about this too.

Starting point is 00:39:32 Best interest may also be defined as neither side has a better option. And they end up staying together because they can't mutually or I guess exclusively do any better. on either side. They will, I think LeBron will be a pro if he comes back. And I think the organization will try to treat LeBron well if he's here. But I think the day, I think if LeBron is looking for the organization to treat him exactly the same way as they did before Luca arrived, that's unrealistic because the situation is so different.

Starting point is 00:40:13 I would agree with that. I don't know if he is, but I would agree that he is either. But I'm saying the type of slight or perceived slight with the game ball feels like wanting to be seen exactly the same way as you've been with the franchise. And that just won't exist anymore. And again, he's never been in a position where I'm not going to say the Lakers don't need him because you are. don't need him at all because you are correct replacing his talent and his production and ironically being the healthiest Laker come playoff time. I don't know if it'll happen again. I think it's always going to be tenuous, but it will not be easy to replace LeBron.

Starting point is 00:40:58 So clearly it's not that they don't need him at all. But LeBron has never, I think, been needed, like truly needed less in his entire career. And that is a very foreign feeling for him. 100%. It's why I find the end of athletes' careers like LeBron, especially when they're still good, to be generally more interesting than the beginning because of questions like this. And I would say, like, if the, if Game Ball Gate was like just in isolation a thing that like, oh, everything was fine. And then you did this, I would agree with you 100%. I can't imagine that it is. It just strikes me as the kind of thing that is a, an example of, you know, final straw of something that's been bugging me for a while.

Starting point is 00:41:48 Honestly, it's not even the final straw. It's just one of many, many straws. The straws don't end. Right. It's just, you know, it's one of those things that's like a cumulative, like, God, like, this just hit me the wrong way today kind of deal. Look, it's never a final, it's never a final straw until he leaves. And in the end, right, exactly.

Starting point is 00:42:05 And in the end, it didn't seem to have any impact at all on anything the Lakers did for the rest of the year. So it's a fascinating story. fascinating moment for the Lakers heading into a fascinating off season. Lockdown Lakers on YouTube is where you can go hang out with over 38,000 subscribers. Do check out the everyday or club locked onlakers.supercast.com in the show notes. See if it's for you, five bucks a month, 50 bucks a year. And we'll catch everyone.

Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers - Is There Still Tension Between LeBron James and the Lakers? What Happens Next?

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