For the first time since LeBron James’ move to the Lakers was made official, the superstar explained signing with one of the country’s most famous sports institutions.
“This is kind of like a dream come true for me,” James said in a video posted Sunday on his site, Uninterrupted. “You know, growing up, I was a Cowboys fans, I was a Bulls fan, I was a Yankees fan, and I’ve always felt like that was one of the historic franchises. You look at the Lakers, and being able to play for a historic franchise, with so much history, you know?
“And now being able to partner with Magic Johnson, someone I kind of like looked up to when I was younger, you know, and wanted to make no-look passes like Magic, wanted to get on the break and be ‘Showtime’ like Magic, and then for it to all come to fruition at this point, I think timing is everything.”
James also spoke at length about the opening of his foundation’s “I Promise” school in Akron, saying it was bittersweet he wouldn’t be there to watch the kids grow firsthand. He had to go to Los Angeles — though perhaps not because the Lakers’ pitch and aura could not be denied. It might have been less about the Lakers and more about their city.
Johnson, the Lakers’ president of basketball operations, has been hailed for the coup, yet some have felt the location was the true draw.
“All due respect to the Lakers, who handled everything well,” Lakers legend Jerry West told Sports Illustrated, “but, as these things go, LeBron was not a tough free-agent signing. LeBron wanted to come to L.A. and he wanted to come to the Lakers. Period. … He will be a celebrity out here, sure, but it’s a place where, once in a while, he can get lost, be himself. You can’t do that everywhere.”
And an anonymous NBA player put the Lakers’ “recruitment” in more blunt terms.
“He wanted to come to L.A.,” the player told ESPN. “They just had to not f–k it up.”
Even if the Lakers’ location gave them a sizable advantage over other franchises, it’s unlikely they’re too fussed with the reasons for James’ arrival.
They’ve got the current best player in the world for four years, and he’s happy to be there.
