Lakers News: LeBron James Wondered If Kobe Bryant Rivalry Would Affect LA Fans’ Support
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The Los Angeles Lakers were down in the dumps during the mid-2010s. The Lakers were competing for the number one pick in the NBA draft, and it was not a fun time to be a Lakers fan. The team and organization had a ton of turmoil, as they had no sense of direction.
Although the Lakers were grabbing young talent through the draft, many fans weren't used to the slow process. However, that all changed in the summer of 2018 when the Lakers acquired possibly the greatest basketball player of all time, LeBron James.
James decided to take his talent to the West Coast, changing the Lakers organization for the better.
He's accomplished so much in his tenure here, and in his second season, he and superstar teammate Anthony Davis even brought home title number 17 to L.A.
It's been quite the ride for James, and even though it's been rocky, many Laker fans don't have it any other way. However, many wondered whether James in Los Angeles would sit well with Laker fans, including the four-time NBA champion himself.
ESPN's Bobby Marks and Dave McMenamin revealed that James has 'privately questioned' whether the Laker fanbase would embrace The King after seeing him battle with beloved Laker Kobe Bryant all those years.
James, who has privately questioned whether Laker Nation would ever fully embrace him after seeing him battle their beloved Kobe Bryant for so long, acknowledged the way the fans and the franchise showed up for him.
After breaking the 40,000-point mark in his sixth season in the purple and gold, James has no more doubts.
"Much respect and much loyalty to the Laker fan base for showing me that love," James said. "Being the first player to do something, that's pretty cool in this league."
Although many fans love and have embraced James, few 'Lakers fans can't get over that James and Bryant battle all those years ago.
Both are great, and both have done great things for the Lakers. Get over it.
Without James, who knows where the Lakers would be after all these years? The 39-year-old brought the Lakers back to being a relevant franchise, not Jeanie Buss, Rob Pelinka, or anyone else among the Lakers brass.
Appreciate James while he's here because, trust me, you will miss him once he's gone. Hopefully, he will finish his career in the City of Angels. Maybe his jersey will be in the rafters at Crypto.com Arena one day.
