The Los Angeles Lakers' tough stretch of games continued on Friday night as the team fell short against the Memphis Grizzlies. It was either team's game midway through the fourth quarter but the Lakers crumbled in crunch time and lost by 14 points.
Los Angeles is now two games under .500 despite getting mostly healthy seasons out of LeBron James and Anthony Davis. This level of play is unacceptable and has rightfully put Darvin Ham on the hot seat. If the Lakers do not turn this season around quickly then Ham may soon be on his way out.
Frustrations are growing in the Lakers locker room and LeBron is making it ever so clear that he is not happy. When speaking to reporters after Friday's loss, LeBron did not hesitate to say that the team sucks right now. Funny enough, that was not the worst thing that LeBron even said about his own team or teammates after the game.
After saying that the Lakers suck right now, LeBron was heard during Anthony Davis' media ability telling Austin Reaves that his son, Bronny James, would be starting for the Lakers right now if he was in the NBA. It isn't just what LeBron said, it is the way he reportedly said it.
during ad’s availability, austin asked lebron about bronny’s game tomorrow and if he’d be starting. lebron said he thought it was time, and loudly said “he could play for us right now. easy. EASY.”
— claire de lune (@ClaireMPLS) January 6, 2024
LeBron James disrespects Lakers teammates with Bronny James comment
Look, we are all for LeBron James being a supportive father and we get that he is going to play wherever Bronny ends up in the league. In LeBron's ideal situation, the Lakers would draft Bronny so he does not have to leave and the family can stay together in Los Angeles.
Some may view this as early recruiting by LeBron but that is not what this is. This is a blatant message to his Lakers teammates as well as the front office that they simply are not good enough. LeBron knows what he is doing and while it may not have been during his media availability, he knew the media was around and this would get reported on. This is a direct message and quite frankly, it is a disrespectful one.
With all respect to Bronny, saying that a college freshman who is a borderline first-round prospect as best would be starting is a big shot to the rest of the Lakers. With one sentence, LeBron let the likes of Cam Reddish, Taurean Prince, Jarred Vanderbilt, D'Angelo Russell, and every other player who has started know how he feels.
This isn't something you blurt out if you are confident in the team and it is clear that the locker room is not in a great place right now. If Darvin Ham doesn't corral this soon then it could spiral out of control for the purple and gold.