Lake Show Life
Fansided

Lakers: 3 rosters that were abandoned when LeBron James left

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 16: LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the fourth quarter against the Utah Jazz at Crypto.com Arena on February 16, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 16: LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the fourth quarter against the Utah Jazz at Crypto.com Arena on February 16, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 4
Next
(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

1. The 2010-11 Cavaliers after LeBron James left:

LeBron James first left the Cleveland Cavaliers to go join Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh down in South Beach. While Cavs fans burned LeBron jerseys like it was going out of style, it did feel like he was leaving the entire time. The question should not have been if he was going, but where he was going.

To give credit to LeBron, the Cavaliers did not really go all-in on putting a good supporting cast around him in the first stint. This roster is not similar to the other two as it was just outright bad even with LeBron. That is why he left.

There were a lot of different variations, but the best starting five for the 2010-11 Cavaliers after LeBron James left for the Miami Heat was as followed:

  • PG: Mo Williams
  • SG: Anthony Parker
  • SF: Joey Graham
  • PF: J.J. Hickson
  • C: Anderson Varejao

This Cavaliers team had the second-worst record in the entire NBA. It showed just how big of an impact that LeBron James had as most of these players were part of his supporting cast during the end of his first stint in the league.

It took the Cavs years to become relevant again and they really were not relevant again until LeBron re-joined them in 2014. The most games that the Cavaliers won without LeBron was 33 and that happened the year before he came back.

It was mostly due to Kyrie Irving, who was in his second all-star season in the league. We all know the story. LeBron came back home to play with Kyrie and Kevin Love, swearing to bring a championship to Cleveland. He did just that, but how did he leave the Miami Heat behind?