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Contrary to popular belief, the acquisition of one or two superstars to play alongside him was not a prerequisite for LeBron James' decision to agree to a deal with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Many believed that James would only sign for the Lakers if the franchise was successful in luring either Paul George or Kawhi Leonard to the purple and gold. In his piece for the Sports Illustrated website, Lee Jenkins describes how James' decision did not rely solely on this factor.
“James explained that he was in no rush, even at 33, and did not have a problem being the first headliner through the door. He wants to build a contender that lasts and believes the Lakers possess the recruiters, the assets and the salary cap space to do it.”
With Paul George recently agreeing to terms with the Oklahoma City Thunder for an extension, many believed that it hurt the chances of LeBron going to L.A. However, James did not waiver and stood firm on his decision to join the Lakers.
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According to Jenkins, one of the biggest factors that brought James to Los Angeles was his desire to build a team from the ground up. The post-Kobe Bryant era has been simply miserable for one of the most storied franchises in the NBA, and it was only recently — arguably just last season — that some light began to shine.
The acquisition of Lonzo Ball through the draft, the unexpected emergence of Kyle Kuzma, and the further development of Brandon Ingram all point towards a bright future for the Lakers. This, along with Magic Johnson sitting at the helm of the front office, was enough to convince James to buy in.
Oh, how great it is to be a Lakers fan right now.
