Not every Lakers fan has fully embraced the LeBron James era - and that’s not exactly breaking news in Los Angeles. Some fans remain fiercely loyal to Kobe Bryant, the icon who gave the franchise two decades of greatness and five championships.
Ever since LeBron arrived in 2018, there's been a lingering tension between the old guard and the new face of the franchise. But on a recent episode of Road Trippin’, former NBA forward Richard Jefferson had a message for the Kobe loyalists still holding onto that divide: it’s time to let it go.
Jefferson, now an ESPN analyst and longtime friend of LeBron, didn’t hold back. He called out the segment of Lakers fans who, in his words, don’t want to see LeBron succeed in purple and gold - not because of what he’s done or hasn’t done, but because they don’t want him mentioned in the same breath as Kobe. Or Michael Jordan, for that matter.
“Kobe’s last tweet was giving some love to Bron,” Jefferson said. “These guys were boys. We saw them in the Olympics, and there is a contingent of Kobe-Laker fans that don’t want LeBron to be successful, because they don’t want that comparison like MJ fans.”
That last part hits home. For years, LeBron has been stuck in the middle of a tug-of-war between fan bases who view greatness as a zero-sum game.
If you praise LeBron, you must be disrespecting Kobe. Or Jordan.
Or both. But Jefferson’s point is clear: that mindset isn’t helping anyone - and it certainly isn’t helping fans appreciate one of the greatest careers the league has ever seen.
“I’m over the, ‘Oh, he will never be Jordan.’ Neither will you, so shut up,” Jefferson said, with his trademark blend of humor and honesty.
“You are saying he is the second-best player in the game; that’s not an insult. People use these arguments for conversations, bro, it’s coming to an end.”
And that’s the key here. LeBron’s career is winding down.
Whether it ends this year or next, the NBA is preparing to say goodbye to a player who has carried the league’s spotlight for two full decades. Jefferson’s message?
Appreciate it while it lasts.
Channing Frye, Jefferson’s co-host and former teammate, added that some fans won’t know what to do with themselves once LeBron is gone - especially those who’ve built their sports identity around criticizing him. Jefferson didn’t mince words in response.
“They hate themselves,” he said. “They’ll always have themselves to hate.”
It was a mic-drop moment, but also a reminder: sports fandom doesn’t have to be rooted in comparison or negativity. You can love Kobe and still respect what LeBron’s done - especially when you consider the longevity and consistency he’s brought to the game.
Speaking of that longevity, LeBron’s future is still up in the air. He hasn’t announced any retirement plans, but there are signs pointing toward the 2025-26 season being his last ride.
He’s currently in the final year of his two-year deal with the Lakers, and the team didn’t offer an extension over the summer. Injuries have also started to take a toll.
He missed the first 14 games of the season due to sciatica and has only suited up for 29 games so far.
Still, if you’re looking for a definitive answer, you won’t find one - not yet. But Shaquille O’Neal, LeBron’s former teammate and fellow Lakers legend, believes there’s one more season left in the tank.
On a recent episode of Inside the NBA, Shaq said he expects LeBron to return next year, regardless of which team he plays for. And wherever that may be, he believes the league will rally around him for a farewell tour worthy of his impact.
At 41 years old and in his 23rd season, LeBron is still putting up numbers that most players would kill for: 22.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game. That’s not just aging gracefully - that’s still playing at a high level.
So whether you’re team Kobe, team MJ, or just a fan of basketball greatness, the message is the same: don’t wait until it’s over to give LeBron his flowers. He’s earned them. And when the final buzzer does sound, we’ll be looking back at a career that didn’t just live up to the hype - it redefined it.