Originally published by LakersNation.com
When LeBron James signed with the Los Angeles Lakers back in the summer of 2018, it marked a change and a new era for this franchise. The Lakers have always been synonymous with legends and all-time greats and James came to the organization when it was at its lowest point in history and turned it around back into the franchise known for winning championships.
James spent eight seasons with the Lakers, the most consecutive seasons he spent with any team in his career. And now that his time with the franchise is done, he took some time to reflect on everything.
“A lot of people said when I came to the Lakers I was just coming to be in Hollywood and do movies and shit like that,” James said on the latest episode of his Mind the Game podcast. “But I’ve always loved a huge challenge and to come to a historical franchise that has some of the greatest basketball players that we’ve ever seen in the history of sports, to be a part of that, one, was like a super-duper big thing to me. It was like super cool and humbling at the same time.
“I think there was Sports Illustrated cover when I signed with the Lakers that they had all the Laker greats on it and then I was on there, I was like, ‘Holy shit, this is different.’ So the expectations around here in Los Angeles when it comes to the Lakers is let’s win championships and I heard that and I understood that. And for us to be able to win one, that was something I will never forget, obviously. With that group, with that team, for this city.
“I still think about not being able to do the parade. It bothers me, 1-10? 20. Just to be able to celebrate with the Laker faithful. I don’t know what the route would’ve been. I’m thinking go down Olympic, just like all the way down Olympic and then end up downtown right by Staples Center [laughs] Nobody wanna call it Crypto and shit, it’s Staples Center to me. It would’ve been super-duper dope, but yea we did that and that banner is up there. That banner is in that arena forever along with the other ones that’s been able to go up in the history of the Lakers franchise.”
The 2020 Lakers not getting a championship parade because of Covid restrictions is something that will forever bother James and everyone else on that team. For everything that they went through to bring home that championship, they are more than deserving of being celebrated by the fans in a big way.
Regardless, James did accomplish so much with the purple and gold and left a ton of memories for everyone to cherish and his jersey will be hanging in those rafters once he finally calls it a career. He came in under major pressure and expectations and delivered the most important thing to this franchise, another ring.
Rob Pelinka ‘grateful’ for LeBron James era with Lakers
The Lakers organization is also very thankful for James’ time in purple and gold and general manager Rob Pelinka recently spoke about that, saying he was ‘grateful’ for the LeBron James era.
If you love our reporting, choose LakersNation.com as a preferred source on Google.
When LeBron James signed with the Los Angeles Lakers back in the summer of 2018, it marked a change and a new era for this franchise. The Lakers have always been synonymous with legends and all-time greats and James came to the organization when it was at its lowest point in history and turned it around back into the franchise known for winning championships.
James spent eight seasons with the Lakers, the most consecutive seasons he spent with any team in his career. And now that his time with the franchise is done, he took some time to reflect on everything.
“A lot of people said when I came to the Lakers I was just coming to be in Hollywood and do movies and shit like that,” James said on the latest episode of his Mind the Game podcast. “But I’ve always loved a huge challenge and to come to a historical franchise that has some of the greatest basketball players that we’ve ever seen in the history of sports, to be a part of that, one, was like a super-duper big thing to me. It was like super cool and humbling at the same time.
“I think there was Sports Illustrated cover when I signed with the Lakers that they had all the Laker greats on it and then I was on there, I was like, ‘Holy shit, this is different.’ So the expectations around here in Los Angeles when it comes to the Lakers is let’s win championships and I heard that and I understood that. And for us to be able to win one, that was something I will never forget, obviously. With that group, with that team, for this city.
“I still think about not being able to do the parade. It bothers me, 1-10? 20. Just to be able to celebrate with the Laker faithful. I don’t know what the route would’ve been. I’m thinking go down Olympic, just like all the way down Olympic and then end up downtown right by Staples Center [laughs] Nobody wanna call it Crypto and shit, it’s Staples Center to me. It would’ve been super-duper dope, but yea we did that and that banner is up there. That banner is in that arena forever along with the other ones that’s been able to go up in the history of the Lakers franchise.”
The 2020 Lakers not getting a championship parade because of Covid restrictions is something that will forever bother James and everyone else on that team. For everything that they went through to bring home that championship, they are more than deserving of being celebrated by the fans in a big way.
Regardless, James did accomplish so much with the purple and gold and left a ton of memories for everyone to cherish and his jersey will be hanging in those rafters once he finally calls it a career. He came in under major pressure and expectations and delivered the most important thing to this franchise, another ring.
Rob Pelinka ‘grateful’ for LeBron James era with Lakers
The Lakers organization is also very thankful for James’ time in purple and gold and general manager Rob Pelinka recently spoke about that, saying he was ‘grateful’ for the LeBron James era.
If you love our reporting, choose LakersNation.com as a preferred source on Google.
