LeBron James used a live podcast taping at Fanatics Fest to put a bow on his Lakers run, and he did it with gratitude rather than bitterness.
Appearing on the live recording of the Mind the Game podcast with Tyrese Haliburton, James looked back on the eight seasons he spent in Los Angeles and made sure to thank the people around him, beginning with the team’s top decision-makers.
“First of all, shout out to my former team. I spent eight great years with the Los Angeles Lakers, one of the most historical franchises in the world.
Shout out to Jeanie Buss, the whole Buss family, Rob Pelinka, everybody. All the coaches that I played for there.
All my teammates.”
He added, “S**t, I’m going to miss them all, obviously. It was an unbelievable ride, and I’m just looking forward to what holds next as I wind down the final stages of my journey.”
Those comments served as a clear farewell to a stretch that was as eventful as it was uneven. James’ Lakers tenure produced 479 games, 25.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and 7.9 assists per game, with shooting splits of 51.3% from the field and 35.6% from three. He also collected eight All-Star nods, seven All-NBA selections, the 2020 NBA championship and Finals MVP honors.
While wearing a Lakers uniform, James also became the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, adding another major milestone to a resume already packed with them.
The arc of his time in Los Angeles had sharp highs and frustrating lows. He arrived to a rebuilding roster, then teamed with Anthony Davis after the Lakers made the trade for him. That partnership peaked immediately with the 2020 title, the defining moment of LeBron’s Lakers years.
What followed was much harder. Injuries and roster problems helped shape the rest of the run, and the results reflected it: the Lakers missed the playoffs twice, were bounced in the first round three times, reached the second round once, made one trip to the Western Conference Finals and won one championship.
Even through the rough patches, James stayed among the league’s elite.
There had been reports that his relationship with the Lakers’ front office worsened in recent seasons, especially after the Russell Westbrook trade. After the Luka Doncic trade, the franchise’s direction clearly leaned toward the future, and reports also said the two sides never even met before free agency.
Still, James’ words left no doubt about how he feels about the years he spent there. However the next stop unfolds, he exits Los Angeles with a message that sounded final, appreciative and unmistakably personal.
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