The Los Angeles Lakers are seething. A disappointing season, no improvements on the trade deadline and a LeBron James hinting at a farewell in interviews. It is a power struggle that is likely to continue for a few months.
If anyone in the NBA understands the media game, it’s LeBron James. In 19 years, the 37-year-old has seen just about everything and is now a master at spinning the narrative in his favour. This past All-Star weekend was no different. James was in a good mood, made jokes – and made some statements sit up and take notice.
As always, this was calculated, possibly even orchestrated. James gave, among others, a Cavs beatwriter, Jason Llyod (The Athletic), an interview in which he did not rule out the possibility of returning to Cleveland again. Out of nowhere, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar praised Thunder GM Sam Presti (“He’s the MVP”), although he was actually only asked his opinion on rookie guard Josh Giddey.
LeBron had things to say and used the largest possible stage, the All-Star weekend – and thus increased the pressure on the Lakers again. With a record of 27-31, the Californians are currently only ninth in the west, the play-in tournament seems to be unavoidable at the latest after Anthony Davis’ recent injury. It smells like another losing season for LeBron, now the third in his four seasons in the City of Angels, with the only exception being the 2020 championship season.
James has lost time, which he actually doesn’t have any more in his old age as an athlete. However, the situation in Los Angeles is muddled, there is not the only culprit, even if it is often portrayed as such. Instead, a power struggle is raging behind the scenes that could upset the balance of the NBA. Let’s try to break this down piece by piece.
LeBron James puts pressure on the Lakers
The starting point for LeBron’s statements in Cleveland was certainly the trade deadline, in which the Lakers did not participate. Shortly before, LeBron had drummed for it again and made a comparison with the Super Bowl champion LA Rams: “As good as the Rams were when they had the chance to get a top player like Odell (Beckham Jr.). , they struck. When you have a chance to improve you try to take it, when you don’t you make the best of what you have.”
The Lakers didn’t improve, even though GM Rob Pelinka later claimed that he had had many discussions. At the same time, Pelinka also emphasized that everything happened in consultation with James and Davis and that they are on the same wavelength as him. This was contradicted a little later by Dave McMenamin (ESPN), which referred to sources close to the players.
Who these sources might be is not difficult to guess. LeBron and AD are both represented by Klutch, an agency founded by James’ buddy Rich Paul (and LeBron himself). They have more or less been pulling the strings in the background for years, even if Pelinka always spoke of working with his stars.
After all, Pelinka also knows how things work. He was Kobe Bryant’s agent for years, but also represented other stars such as Kevin Durant, James Harden or Andre Iguodala at times. Agents always try to get the best out of their clients and thus also influence club politics, that’s nothing new – nor that superstars have a certain lever of power.
LeBron James made the Lakers relevant again
So the Lakers knew what they were getting into in 2018 when they brought James to Los Angeles. LA operated from a position of weakness from the start. LeBron wanted to go to Los Angeles, regardless of the sporting situation. The Lakers had some promising players in Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart and Kyle Kuzma, but the last time a playoff series was won was in 2011.
The Lakers’ shine had faded, even free agents like LaMarcus Aldridge (2015) gave the actual glamor franchise a wide berth. So it was James who made the Lakers relevant again. Klutch then pressured the New Orleans Pelicans, paving the way for the Davis to Tinseltown mega trade a year later. Just 16 months later, in the Orlando bubble, the Lakers won their first title in ten years.
However, this did not come without a price. With the exception of Kuzma, all youngsters were hawked for Davis, the same applied to the first-round picks up to 2026. Klutch had delivered – and thus strengthened his own position within the franchise. Not even Kobe Bryant could wield that much power in his heyday, but times had changed.
When Kobe requested a trade in 2007, a strong owner in Dr. Jerry Buss to be intercepted. It went so far that Bryant refused his request and persuaded him to stay. Even coach Phil Jackson’s second term was pushed through, although he criticized Bryant harshly in his book “The Last Season”.
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