If Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James’ illustrious career ended today, like when Michael Jordan abruptly retired in the wake of a new season in 1993, James’ career would end as a 16-time all-star, three-time NBA Champion, six-time All-Defensive Team, four-time MVP, 15-time All-NBA and three-time Finals MVP.
It would be a career that stands up against most, and in many cases, tops the other greats to ever touch a basketball.
In 2020, many believe there is one accomplishment that could rival all the others I just mentioned. An accomplishment that is layered in history, critical acclaim and high esteem in the sporting universe. That accomplishment would be winning a championship as a Los Angeles Lakers star.
LeBron James taking the first family of basketball, the most popular franchise in basketball history (arguably the most popular in sports period), to a triumphant return to the promised land would be his greatest feat yet. It would also be the only way for his jersey to one day hang in the rafters with legends George Mikan, Jerry West, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant, just to name a few.
A championship with the Los Angeles Lakers would also make him a Laker for life.
The obvious reason why this accomplishment would cement his legacy as a Laker for life would be the history attached to the feat. The Lakers as a franchise boast sixteen championship banners, a net worth of 4.4 billion dollars (via Forbes), twenty-six Hall of Fame players and four Hall of Fame coaches.
When it comes to popularity and mystique, no franchise in the league can match the Lakers. Winning a title brings a player into the pantheon of championship Lakers teams. A category where every star player that has won a championship for the Lakers gets their jersey retired, no ifs ands or buts about it.
LeBron with all of his records and achievement would be in an exclusive club. A club with Kareem, Kobe, Magic, Wilt, Shaq, etc. A club where stats don’t get you in, or critical acclaim, only rings won for the greatest hoops franchise in history can grant you access.
LeBron James winning his first title with the Los Angeles Lakers would not only impact his legacy, it would not only confirm the validity of the decision he made to come here but it would also validate Anthony Davis’ push to play for the Lakers as well.
We soon forget the absolute circus show the middle of the 2018-2019 season became because of the trade demands Anthony Davis made while at the time being a member of the New Orleans Pelicans.
It caused immense locker room turmoil for the Lakers, as young players such as Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart all felt used and betrayed. In the end, Davis got his wish, and is now a Los Angeles Laker, for the time being.
If LeBron is able to win a championship in LA with Davis, it would confirm all of Davis’s thinking when he forced his way here. This would likely secure Davis for the remainder of his prime and career in Los Angeles. This feat could, in my estimation, be added to LeBron’s Laker resume as well as he would be paving the way for more championship teams without with led by Davis.
For this specific season, where perhaps the most beloved Laker tragically perished in January, it would be a truly heart wrenching but uniquely special moment for the franchise to hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy in honor of our fallen Laker.
When LeBron James spoke to the crowd before the return of the Lakers against the Blazers following the death of Kobe, there was an obvious positive shift in the relationship between James and the Laker faithful. I believe that bringing a championship to LA as a tribute to Kobe would seal in stone LeBron’s place in the Laker family forever.