Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Lakers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
LeBron James.
Say that name to anyone, and it’s going to garner a response. Sometimes it will be overwhelmingly positive, and in other scenarios it will be very negative.
Given how long LeBron played for the Lakers, his era had plenty of highs and lows that can alter how one evaluates his time in LA.
The best moment has to be the 2020 title. He got it done and left a legacy. In such a tough situation, he helped LA dominate in the bubble and was named Finals MVP.
The lows have to be the losses.
Despite his All-Star-level play, the Lakers were unable to make it out of the Western Conference again after 2020. They had two losing seasons, three postseason first-round exits, four different head coaches and too much drama to ever count.
Now that the Lakers chapters are completed in the book of LeBron’s career, for our SB Nation Reacts survey this week, we asked fans if his time in LA was a success. The answer was an emphatic yes.
Winning matters. It’s so hard to do.
The list of great teams and players who never won it all is enormous, and the number that got it done is finite.
LeBron talked about championships, and he hung a banner inside Crypto.com Arena. He ended the Lakers’ title drought and arrived in LA when the franchise was at a low point.
Thanks to his arrival, they became winners. With LeBron on the Lakers, they attracted stars like Anthony Davis and remained one of the better teams in the NBA.
LeBron left the Lakers better than he found them. If that’s not a success, then I don’t know what is.
Should the Lakers have won more? Maybe.
In hindsight, the Russell Westbrook trade was a disaster. It broke up a team that should’ve been left alone. The blame game involving that move and how much of it falls on the Lakers front office, or LeBron, is still debated today and remains a touchy subject.
Still, the good far outweighed the bad.
He won’t retire a Laker, but he left his mark. Now that it’s done, the only thing left to say is goodbye LeBron, and thanks for the memories.
Now it’s Luka Dončić’s turn. Let’s see what he does with it.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.
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