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Los Angeles Lakers: Evidence that stars do want to play with LeBron James

By Jacob Wolkenfeld

CHARLOTTE, NC - FEBRUARY 17: LeBron James #23 and Dwyane Wade #3 of Team LeBron react to a play during the game against Team Giannis during the 2019 NBA All-Star Game on February 17, 2019 at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - FEBRUARY 17: LeBron James #23 and Dwyane Wade #3 of Team LeBron react to a play during the game against Team Giannis during the 2019 NBA All-Star Game on February 17, 2019 at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Los Angeles Lakers LeBron James (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images)
Los Angeles Lakers LeBron James (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Kyrie Irving And Kevin Love:

After LeBron’s wonderful four-year run with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami, he went back home to Cleveland. He wouldn’t be back home alone this time, however. Kyrie Irving was just a few seasons into his young NBA career when the summer of 2014 hit. The Cavaliers had landed the number one overall pick and LeBron knew that he needed to orchestrate a trade for another star to join him in Cleveland. So, he did just that.

Although he would never admit it, LeBron James influenced David Griffin to make a trade that would send their number one pick, Andrew Wiggins, to Minnesota for their All-Star forward at the time, Kevin Love.

This would mean that once again, LeBron would be playing alongside two NBA stars. The process in Cleveland wasn’t as pretty for LeBron as it was in Miami. James played three seasons in Cleveland with Love and Irving, before Irving requested a trade for what was believed to be because he no longer wanted to play with James.

That doesn’t look great for making an argument that James is the most desired of superstars for other superstars to team-up with in NBA history. What doesn’t look good either, is how poorly Irving performed once he left James for the Boston Celtics.

Nonetheless, Irving and Love were on board for teaming up with LeBron James. It took Irving just three years to request a trade away from James, but that doesn’t change the fact that Irving did indeed want to play with James initially. And who knows, part of him may wish he still was.

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