LeBron James vs. Kawhi Leonard: Who is the king of Los Angeles?

TORONTO, CANADA - MARCH 14: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors handles the ball against LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers on March 14, 2019 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA - MARCH 14: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors handles the ball against LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers on March 14, 2019 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images)
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Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James
(Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)

Lakers fans will really know if LeBron James is here for championships or business interests.

If there is one website on the entire internet that irritates LeBron James fans, it’s Lake Show Life. Whether it’s been his sulking after a 2-5 start to the season last year, to his lack of leadership, to his defense that made James Harden cringe, the writers were brutally honest in the criticism of LeBron James. Empty stats aside, he wasn’t good. Lakers fans made that clear at times during the season with a code word.

Boo. It was a sound that started with that clanking sound at the free throw line.

This was a strange team to cover last year for all media involved. It was clear that the roster full of “playmakers” plan did not work as planned even though the Lakers were in the 4th seed on Christmas Day. Conveniently that was the beginning of the end when LeBron pulled a groin and Rajon Rondo broke his hand.

In between LeBron James’ absence from the court, it looked like a corporate takeover was being orchestrated around the trade deadline when the Lakers set their sights on Anthony Davis. From his camp leaking a preferred coaching change during the season to leaks of combinations of players rumored in a trade, the Lakers season derailed quickly.

It seemed that LeBron James was more interested in his business ventures and his G.O.A.T. status than basketball last year.

https://twitter.com/uninterrupted/status/1079526745730998272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1079526745730998272&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Flakeshowlife.com%2F2019%2F01%2F30%2Flakers-rumors-anthony-davis-requests-trade-lebrons-corporate-takeover-begins%2F

Now there will be no excuses. By the end of the season, LeBron James lost his unofficial title of being the “Best player in the World” to Kevin Durant by the end of the regular season. Now that Kawhi Leonard is now an NBA champion, NBA pundits have passed the title over to him now that Durant is out for next season.

It’s no secret that LeBron James likes playing with veterans along with another superstar. Rob Pelinka (More on him later) constructed the Lakers with his input and with shooters that were definitely missing last year. Magic Johnson admitted his mistakes last year, this year this one is squarely on LeBron James, whether it’s fair or not.

Walt Frazier basically called LeBron James a bad leader in a Lakers loss to the New York Knicks late in the season when LeBron felt the need to distance himself from the team on the bench.

This will not fly next year. Las Vegas, NBA fans and many media outlets have the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals against the Clippers. The message is clear for LeBron James.

Every star has his adversary for a great drama. Let’s meet LeBron’s competition across the hall in the Staples Center.