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Throughout history, the Los Angeles Lakers have pretty much been the premier free-agent destination in the NBA, luring in the likes of Shaquille O'Neal, Karl Malone, Gary Payton, Jamaal Wilkes, Ron Artest and, oh, yeah, that LeBron James guy in free agency.
That doesn't even account for legendary players who were traded to the Lakers, like Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, two of the Top 7 or 8 players the sport has ever seen, who were both dealt to Los Angeles.
As such, historically, whenever there has been major free agency news involving the Lakers, it's almost always been about them picking up high-quality players, not losing them. Hence, that's what made the news about James deciding to leave Los Angeles this summer all the more shocking; not only is arguably the greatest player of all-time looking for a new home for what could be his last season, but he's also leaving a franchise that prides itself on picking up superstar players, not getting left in the lurch by them.
Granted, the Lakers should be fine - they're not losing a prime LeBron, and they have Luka Doncic, a potential future MVP, to build around - but even then, the news of James telling Los Angeles he'd be leaving this offseason was monumental.
James becomes just the second player in Lakers history to leave the purple-and-gold franchise as a reigning All-Star, joining Dwight Howard on the list. Considering the Lakers have been a franchise since 1948-49, for them to have lost just two All-Stars in free agency the following offseason is almost hard to believe.
In Howard's case, the Georgia native's first stint in L.A. in 2012-13 lasted just one season, with the big man being named an All-Star for his efforts that campaign, as well as a 3rd Team All-NBAer. However, according to Howard, he made the decision to leave Los Angeles the following offseason - a decision he came to regret, by the way - because he thought teaming up with the younger James Harden could lead to the duo becoming a then-modern-day Shaq and Kobe Bryant:
James, on the other hand, left Los Angeles simply because he felt it was time to move on, though we expect there to be more news as to why James made that decision at some point in the future.
James is now the first player in Laker history to leave the franchise in free agency the offseason after averaging at least 20 points per game. The other Lakers to have left Los Angeles the season after averaging 20-plus points per night - O'Neal, Clyde Lovelette and Jerry West - left either via trade or, specifically in West's case, retired.
What's more, James joins Wilkes and Pau Gasol as the only players to leave Los Angeles in free agency after making multiple All-Star appearances with the proud franchise, though Wilkes hadn't been an All-Star in a couple of years before departing the Lakers, and Gasol hadn't been one in three seasons when he left L.A. to join the Chicago Bulls as a free agent. That version of Gasol had plenty left in the tank, however, as he'd make two more All-Star appearances in his career after leaving the Lakers, as well as earning 2nd Team All-NBA honors one more time.
Considering how James continues to win the fight against Father Time, we could see the four-time league MVP accomplish what Gasol did in the seasons to come (he has reportedly not decided whether 2026-27 will be his final campaign) and earn another All-Star nod or two following his Lakers departure.
All in all, James' time in Los Angeles was a success, as the team won a championship in 2019-20 and the inaugural NBA Cup in 2023-24, while James earned All-NBA honors in seven of those eight seasons, including as a 1st Teamer in '20.
Is James the best free-agent pickup in Lakers history?
No, that title still belongs to O'Neal, who led Los Angeles to three championships (and won Finals MVP three times) during his time there, and brought home league MVP honors in 1999-00. But James is a close second, which is nothing to scoff at considering he was already almost 34 by the time he joined the Lakers, and considering what a mess the team was when he got there.
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: LeBron James is just the second player coming off an All-Star season to leave the Lakers in free agency
Continue reading...
That doesn't even account for legendary players who were traded to the Lakers, like Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, two of the Top 7 or 8 players the sport has ever seen, who were both dealt to Los Angeles.
As such, historically, whenever there has been major free agency news involving the Lakers, it's almost always been about them picking up high-quality players, not losing them. Hence, that's what made the news about James deciding to leave Los Angeles this summer all the more shocking; not only is arguably the greatest player of all-time looking for a new home for what could be his last season, but he's also leaving a franchise that prides itself on picking up superstar players, not getting left in the lurch by them.
Granted, the Lakers should be fine - they're not losing a prime LeBron, and they have Luka Doncic, a potential future MVP, to build around - but even then, the news of James telling Los Angeles he'd be leaving this offseason was monumental.
James becomes just the second player in Lakers history to leave the purple-and-gold franchise as a reigning All-Star, joining Dwight Howard on the list. Considering the Lakers have been a franchise since 1948-49, for them to have lost just two All-Stars in free agency the following offseason is almost hard to believe.
In Howard's case, the Georgia native's first stint in L.A. in 2012-13 lasted just one season, with the big man being named an All-Star for his efforts that campaign, as well as a 3rd Team All-NBAer. However, according to Howard, he made the decision to leave Los Angeles the following offseason - a decision he came to regret, by the way - because he thought teaming up with the younger James Harden could lead to the duo becoming a then-modern-day Shaq and Kobe Bryant:
James, on the other hand, left Los Angeles simply because he felt it was time to move on, though we expect there to be more news as to why James made that decision at some point in the future.
James is now the first player in Laker history to leave the franchise in free agency the offseason after averaging at least 20 points per game. The other Lakers to have left Los Angeles the season after averaging 20-plus points per night - O'Neal, Clyde Lovelette and Jerry West - left either via trade or, specifically in West's case, retired.
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What's more, James joins Wilkes and Pau Gasol as the only players to leave Los Angeles in free agency after making multiple All-Star appearances with the proud franchise, though Wilkes hadn't been an All-Star in a couple of years before departing the Lakers, and Gasol hadn't been one in three seasons when he left L.A. to join the Chicago Bulls as a free agent. That version of Gasol had plenty left in the tank, however, as he'd make two more All-Star appearances in his career after leaving the Lakers, as well as earning 2nd Team All-NBA honors one more time.
Considering how James continues to win the fight against Father Time, we could see the four-time league MVP accomplish what Gasol did in the seasons to come (he has reportedly not decided whether 2026-27 will be his final campaign) and earn another All-Star nod or two following his Lakers departure.
All in all, James' time in Los Angeles was a success, as the team won a championship in 2019-20 and the inaugural NBA Cup in 2023-24, while James earned All-NBA honors in seven of those eight seasons, including as a 1st Teamer in '20.
Is James the best free-agent pickup in Lakers history?
No, that title still belongs to O'Neal, who led Los Angeles to three championships (and won Finals MVP three times) during his time there, and brought home league MVP honors in 1999-00. But James is a close second, which is nothing to scoff at considering he was already almost 34 by the time he joined the Lakers, and considering what a mess the team was when he got there.
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: LeBron James is just the second player coming off an All-Star season to leave the Lakers in free agency
Continue reading...
