​When LeBron James joined the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018, he immediately revived a franchise that had missed the NBA playoffs for five straight seasons. He and fellow superstar Anthony Davis propelled the Lakers to a championship in 2020, delivering the Larry O’Brien Trophy to the city. Yet as time passed, some Lakers fans grew weary of his presence. There were plenty of fans who wanted James out, and on June 30 that wish came true in a sense when James informed the team of his departure in free agency. He remains a free agent, and the organization has already moved forward, shifting its focus to building a roster around and for Luka Dončić.
Former Laker Derek Fisher has admitted that he doesn’t fully grasp why some people don’t value James’ tenure with the franchise. Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who also earned five NBA championships as a Laker, urged fans to recognize and appreciate what the four-time MVP accomplished during his eight years with the team. “LeBron was a winner on and off the court, and Laker fans should appreciate his performance for the last eight years,” Abdul-Jabbar wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “If LeBron goes home to Cleveland, it won’t matter if they win the World Championship or not because his hometown fans will get their chance to say farewell to one of the greatest ever.”
Indeed, Cleveland appears to be the destination where James could play next season. The Akron, Ohio native spent his first seven professional seasons with the Cavaliers before leaving in 2010 for the Miami Heat and later returning for four more years in 2014. During his second stint in Cleveland, James led the Cavaliers to their first-ever NBA title in 2016 by guiding them past the 73-win Golden State Warriors in the Finals after the Cavaliers had trailed the series three games to one.
James has certainly left his mark on the Lakers’ legacy. It might not be the same kind of impact that Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, or Shaquille O’Neal made, but his presence helped lift a franchise that badly needed a spark. This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire and was tied to the idea of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar urging Lakers fans to appreciate LeBron James for better search engine optimization.