LeBron James’ Lakers rift stemmed from failed Russell Westbrook saga
New York Post • • general
Key Points:
- LeBron James has decided to leave the Los Angeles Lakers after eight seasons, signaling the end of his tenure with the franchise.
- The relationship between James and the Lakers began to deteriorate following the trade of Russell Westbrook after the 2021-22 season, which failed to deliver the expected championship success.
- James was reportedly involved in bringing Westbrook to LA, hoping to strengthen the team alongside Anthony Davis, but Westbrook struggled and the Lakers missed the playoffs with a 33-49 record.
- Westbrook was eventually relegated to a bench role during the 2022-23 season and traded to the Utah Jazz in February 2023, but team cohesion issues persisted.
- Lakers president Jeanie Buss was reportedly frustrated with James for not taking accountability for the Westbrook trade's failure, contributing to unresolved tensions that influenced James' departure.
