Just when Lakers fans thought they’d processed LeBron James leaving, his inner circle dropped a massive ‘what-if.’
LeBron James ending his eight-year run in LA to head east to Philadelphia came as a blow for Lakers fans.
In the eyes of many, it’s unfair, especially given that Jaylen Brown also joined, as Philly look to get over the playoff hump alongside Joel Embiid.
Meanwhile, Los Angeles is left staring down a complete rebuild, with a multi-billion dollar takeover reshaping the Lakers’ ownership, as Bob Iger and Josh Kushner arrive.
The new ownership group has serious money and massive ambitions, but they’ll have to build their future without the greatest player of this generation.
Lakers takeover could have kept LeBron James
According to an ESPN report by Dave McMenamin, a source close to LeBron James was directly asked if the recent $12.5 billion sale of the Lakers to Bob Iger and Josh Kushner would have changed LeBron’s decision to leave for Philadelphia had it happened earlier.
“Maybe. But that’s tough to answer. Communication could have been better [with Iger and Kushner, compared to Walter]. Just a different relationship. But the basketball piece was the most important, so maybe not from that standpoint.”
That single “maybe” speaks volumes. Even if a fresh ownership group brought better communication, the core reality never changed: LeBron chased another championship above all else.
At this stage in his career, a change in ownership can’t top a roster primed to win in the 76ers, making his LA exit feel inevitable regardless of timing.
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