Lakers Fans Do Not Want LeBron James’ Jersey Retired Or a Statue

LeBron James spent eight years with the Los Angeles Lakers from 2018 to 2026.

Lakers Fans Do Not Want LeBron James’ Jersey Retired Or a Statue

LeBron James (Image credits - Bleacher Report)

When LeBron James tested free agency for the third time in his career in 2018 after his second stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers, he joined a struggling Los Angeles Lakers. The signing led many to believe that the Lakers would be the third and final team of his career.

While the Lakers are an esteemed organization, they had missed the playoffs for five consecutive seasons prior to James’ arrival. However, injuries prevented him from leading them to the playoffs in his first season, which also snapped his 13 straight postseason appearances.

But things changed in his second year when he delivered a championship in the bubble. It was the Lakers’ first championship in a decade. Unfortunately, they never reached the NBA Finals since.

With many expecting him to end his career in LA, the King surprised everyone by signing for the Philadelphia 76ers this summer. The move ended his eight-year run with the Lakers.

Following his departure, there has been a lot of talk regarding his legacy with the Lakers. Unlike most of the legends of the past, James joined the Lakers as an all-time great who had already won everything. Hence, it is difficult to place him alongside the likes of Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O’Neal and others.

While he may not have delivered multiple championships like his predecessors, he did bring the franchise back to relevance. He also gave them one of the biggest moments in NBA history when he broke the All-Time scoring record in 2023, which was held by Abdul-Jabbar for nearly 39 years.

Speaking to Lakers fans, an influencer went around asking whether the King deserves his Lakers jersey retired and a statue outside Crypto.com Arena. One fan was against both ideas and said:

No, I don’t think he’s a true Laker. No statue. Absolutely not. This is the real Lakers right here – Pau Gasol, Kobe, Trevor Ariza, Lamar Odom.

Another fan’s reason was that James’ one championship is not enough to warrant a statue:

No. He needs more than one championship, respectfully. No statue. Everyone here has multiple championships. LeBron does not.

There was another fan who believed that James’ impact was minor compared to some greats of the past:

Probably not. I guess they could if they really wanted to, he’s a great player and stuff. He did make a little bit of a difference but not like a major impact that we would have liked.

LeBron James is undoubtedly one of the, if not the, greatest players to ever play in the NBA. He has achieved immense success wherever he has gone and continues to be the face of the league to this day. However, he left the Lakers with a mixed legacy, and there have been questions as to how the Lakers will eventually honor him now that his time in LA has ended.

RELATED
‘Slytherin’ Jaylen Brown Places LeBron James in ‘Gryffindor’ & Labels NBA Awards ‘Fake’

Fans react to Lakers fans not wanting LeBron James’ jersey to be retired or a statue

Back in 2023, Lakers governor Jeanie Buss made a promise that once LeBron James was inducted into the Hall of Fame, his jersey would hang in the rafters at Crypto.com Arena. But it appears Lakers fans aren’t very supportive of it.

After the video clip of their answers went viral, NBA fans reacted to it across social media.

The reactions generated mixed responses. Some fans backed the statements that he does not deserve it, while others believe that he brought the franchise back to relevance and even won them a championship after a 10-year drought.

Austin Reaves on why Lakers fans ‘probably hated’ LeBron James before he signed with LA

The Lakers are the biggest franchise in the NBA alongside the Boston Celtics. They have won 17 championships in their history, second only to the Celtics, who have won 18.

LeBron James and Kobe Bryant
LeBron James and Kobe Bryant (Image credits – Deadline)

However, even the purple and gold went through a difficult period in the 2010s. They struggled in the final three years of Bryant’s career and till the arrival of LeBron James.

James’ former Lakers teammate Austin Reaves explained why it took time for the fanbase to love James as one of their own.

I think with the Bron situation it was a little different just because Bron and Kobe were battling for the best player in the NBA for multiple years, so Lakers fans at the time probably hated LeBron. Not that they didn’t accept him when he was here, but they still probably had the ‘Kobe is better’ type of mentality.

Austin Reaves on California Post

The Lakers have entered a new era following the departure of the four-time champion. Meanwhile, LeBron James kicked off his 24th season donning the 76ers jersey.

Also Read: