Los Angeles Lakers: Why would fans not want LeBron James

CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 14: Lonzo Ball #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers listens to LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers after the game at Quicken Loans Arena on December 14, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Lakers 121-112. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 14: Lonzo Ball #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers listens to LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers after the game at Quicken Loans Arena on December 14, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Lakers 121-112. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
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Los Angeles Lakers
Photo by Harry How/Getty Images

Here We Are Today…

It’s been eight years since Kobe won his last championship and two years since he retired. Even with all that time, I can still feel Lakers fans clinging onto that “Kobe is better than LeBron” mentality. They may not be bringing up Kobe in their reasons for not wanting LeBron on the team, but as a Lakers fan who once hated LeBron, I know that’s the reason.

Lakers fans don’t want LeBron to just walk on into this hard-fought, carefully rebuilt squad. They don’t want him to come in and steal all the homegrown Lakers glory. Even more than that though, they don’t want LeBron to build on his legacy using Kobe’s own purple-and-gold.

I sort of slipped it in there, but yes, I used to be a LeBron-hater. I was in junior high/high school for the height of the Kobe/LeBron days and I definitely believed that Kobe was better during that time.

I resented NBA fans who were so quick to crown LeBron the new “King” of the NBA. I was able to defend my opinions back then, but I’m sorry to say to the Lakers fans today, there’s nothing to use to defend that opinion anymore. LeBron has already had a better career than Kobe.

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