Lakers Need to Respect LeBron James More, According to Ex-Teammate

Wherever LeBron James goes, the spotlight is always on him. There is no doubt that James has cemented his place as one of the greatest players ever to play the game of basketball. The “King” has delivered an NBA Championship wherever he has played.

He won his first two championships during his time with the Miami Heat, then he went on to deliver the city of Cleveland their first and only championship, and then lifted his latest championship in his current club, the Los Angeles Lakers.

In the month of February, a blockbuster trade took place between the Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks. A trade that shook the entire NBA world. Luka Doncic, alongside Markieff Morris and Maxi Kleber were traded to the Lakers for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick. A trade that did not seem to make any sense, as it was clear that the Lakers ended up in winning the trade.

It is no secret that LeBron James has started to show his age this season. The 40-year-old is playing in an unprecedented 23rd season in the NBA. A number that no player has achieved in NBA history. While James has had a slow start to the 2025-26 campaign, he is averaging 17.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 7.2 assists so far. Not at all bad for a 40-year-old.

But James faces an unfamiliar situation this season. After missing the first 14 games of the campaign due to injury, Doncic and Austin Reaves have shown that they are able to hold fort as they went 10-4 in the absence of James. For the first time in his career, James is no longer the number one option in his team, the tag belongs to Doncic as the Lakers prepare themselves for the post-James era.

Markieff Morris, who was James’ teammate when the Lakers lifted the title in 2020, believes that the franchise did not respect the four-time champion last year on the Morris Code Show.

Being with the Lakers last year, I felt a lot of times that the respect was not high enough as it should have been. I can say, before, during the bubble run, way different feeling. Now, you did get Luka but I just feel like the respect was not high enough and I actually said it to him a couple of times.

Markieff Morris says the Lakers didn’t respect LeBron last year

“The respect wasn’t high enough as it shoulda been… I actually said it to him a couple times like, ‘bro, what the fu*k? These n***** got you fu*ed up. I'm confused.”

(Via @TheMorrisCode2)pic.twitter.com/n8NxWkOlZF

— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) December 18, 2025

Despite the Lakers’ strong start to the season, many believe that they are not good enough to contend against other top contenders in the West in the postseason.

LeBron James and Dillon Brooks locked horns once again

It is not the first time this season that James and Dillon Brooks had heated exchanges on the court and it certainly won’t be the last. The two have been at it for a while now, ever since the Lakers took on the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the 2023 playoffs.

Brooks had the last laugh when the two sides locked horns at the Crypto.com Arena but James got his revenge as the Lakers won a closely fought match by 116-114 in Phoenix. But the match did not end with some drama as the two clashed once again with Brooks getting ejected at the end of the game.

Following the win, James spoke about Brooks in the post-match interview.

He’s going to compete. I’m going to compete. We’re going to get up in each other’s face. Tried not to go borderline with it. I don’t really take it there. But we just competed. And did that almost all the way to the end of the game.

“He's going to compete. I'm going to compete. We're going to get up in each other's face. Tried not to go borderline with it. I don't really take it there. But we just competed. And did that almost all the way to the end of the game” – LeBron James on Dillon Brooks pic.twitter.com/KfnoSCetiu

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) December 15, 2025

The two still have two more matchups to take place this season, with the next fixture to be held on December 23 in Phoenix.

Dwight Howard on what the Cleveland Cavaliers have to do to win a championship

LeBron James will forever be the greatest player to have ever played for the Cavs. Since his departure in 2019, the franchise has struggled to mount any title challenge. They have signed the likes of Donovan Mitchell, who has had his share of success with the franchise, but to no avail. While the Cavs have been impressive in the regular season in their last three seasons, their postseason results have been poor.

Former NBA Champion Dwight Howard joked that the Cavs may need to bring back James to win a championship.

Last year I’m like, ‘Man they might have a shot.’ They No. 1 in the East, they blowing teams out, but as soon as the playoffs hit it’s like ‘Oh man the lights is on. What we do now? I think they might need to bring Bron back home. Go on back home man. Finish in Cleveland, bring Bronny with you. Take over the helm there in Cleveland.

James’ long-term agent Rich Paul revealed that James will be staying with the Lakers this season. It is highly likely that James would want to end his career in Hollywood, as he has won everything there is to win in Cleveland.

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