Rapper Fat Joe Believes LeBron James Will Not Be Part of Lakers Royalty: “It Goes Back to Akron”

Rapper and New York Knicks fan Fat Joe spoke about LeBron James' Los Angeles Lakers legacy.

Rapper Fat Joe Believes LeBron James Will Not Be Part of Lakers Royalty: “It Goes Back to Akron”

LeBron James and Fat Joe (in circle) (Image credits - Firstsportz)

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Los Angeles Lakers forward and superstar, LeBron James, is one of the greatest players ever to play the game. The GOAT debate is often between James and Michael Jordan. While the ‘King’ is undoubtedly a legend of the Cleveland Cavaliers and deservedly so, there have been some uncertainties about whether he deserves to be a part of the Lakers royalty.

What separates LeBron James from the rest is his ability to win a championship wherever he goes. James is playing in his eighth season for the Lakers and has delivered the franchise with one championship back in 2020.

Currently, in a record-breaking 23rd season in the NBA, James has played three games for the Lakers this campaign after missing the first 14 games due to injury and has won all three games. The forward is averaging 17.7 points, five rebounds and 8.7 assists as the Lakers have made a strong start to the 2025-26 season and are placed second in the Western Conference standings with a 13-4 record.

American rapper Fat Joe, who is a die-hard New York Knicks fan shared his opinion about James being a Lakers legend.

LeBron ain’t a Laker. When LeBron hangs it up, it goes back to Akron. He ain’t no Laker like Kobe. When it’s all said and done that sh** going up in Cleveland, it ain’t going up in the Lakers.

While his royalty status in the NBA is confirmed without a doubt, his royalty status with the Lakers against the likes of a Kobe Bryant is a debate worth having. James joined the Lakers at the age of 33, having already won three championships before setting foot in LA.

Since then, he has won a championship and broke the all-time NBA points record in LA colors. Hence, it could be said that the four-time champion has achieved more success in Cleveland and Miami.

Have the Lakers fan embraced LeBron James?

The Lakers as an organization have been fortunate to have some of the best players in the game within their ranks. It is a team that has always been able to lure top-rated players throughout their history.

Lebron james 2
LeBron James (Image credits – Lakers Nations)

Lakers fans have seen players such as Bryant, Magic Johnson grow in their franchise and end their careers as club legends. The case for James is different. He arrived as an established superstar in the game, looking to end his career in Hollywood. But that does not take away the championship and Finals MVP he won for the club.

But there seems to be a lack of emotional connection between James and the current fan base. After the signing of one of the best players in the league in Luka Doncic, the Lakers fans appear ready for James to move on as the club aim to build around their new star.

NBA journalist, Yaron Weitzman, speaking to Sam Yip of HoopsHype said:

We’re not gonna know what to do with LeBron’s time in L.A. because the fanbase did not embrace him and has not fully embraced him.

James’ major highlight in LA occurred in the NBA bubble, without fans, which limited opportunities to form lasting emotional bonds.

LeBron James in an unfamiliar situation

This may be the first time in 23 seasons that James is not the best player in his team. Clubs build their squads around their star player and for the Lakers, it is Doncic at present as they prepare for life in the post-James era.

But having a 40-year-old James as a second option is still a luxury. With his IQ and playmaking ability, there is still a lot that James can offer as the Lakers look to contend for the NBA championship this season. Former Boston Celtics star Paul Pierce spoke about James’ fit in the team:

Where does LeBron ever have to fit in? He never has to. We’ve never seen him fit in, so now after all these years we are like how do we know. We still don’t know. Usually. LeBron is the guy that you gotta adjust your talents around him whereas this is the first time in his career where you gotta say he has gotta fall in line with what Luka is doing, what Reaves is doing, so I’m just questioning if he can do it.

There were doubts on how James would fit into this new role after the Lakers made a strong start to the season in his absence but those doubts have been put to rest since his comeback.

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