LeBron James is completely changing what everyone thought was possible for a star athlete in the NBA. LeBron led the Los Angeles Lakers to the Western Conference Finals in the same year that he broke the all-time scoring record while he still plays better than all but a handful of players in the league.
None of this is guaranteed at LeBron’s age and his elite level of play could end at any moment. That is why Lakers fans should cherish the legendary basketball they are seeing, even if it is no longer the prime version of LeBron.
Fans should especially cherish it during the 2023-24 season as it will certainly be his last in the purple and gold. Retirement threats aside (which all just seems like a ploy to get the Lakers to make certain moves), LeBron has all but confirmed that he will leave the Lakers after the 2023-24 season in his latest Instagram story.
https://twitter.com/LakeShowYo/status/1673887661805936640
LeBron James all but confirms that he will leave the Lakers to join Bronny James
This is something that has been brewing for several years now and has always been assumed. LeBron has shared his desire to play with his son, Bronny James, for several years and many expected him to join whichever team drafts him in 2024.
Saying that the entire James Gang would go to Atlanta (as Bronny was selected by the Hawks in this mock draft) confirms that LeBron will likely utilize his player option and even sacrifice money if he has to in order to play with his son.
Unfortunately, the Lakers do not have the means to really stop this from happening. The New Orleans Pelicans have the right to take either LA’s 2024 first-round pick or save it and take the 2025 first-round pick, regardless of where it falls.
If LA is picking deep enough into the 20s then the Pelicans could roll the dice and hope the pick is better in 2025. But if that is the case, Bronny likely won’t even last that long in the draft as some are projecting him to be a top-10 draft prospect.
It might not end up being Atlanta, but whichever team drafts Bronny is also going to get LeBron James during the 2024 summer. And there is nothing the Lakers can do about it.