Trending topics:
NBA

NBA legend talks about LeBron James' future with the Lakers

Former NBA star Gary Payton shared his thoughts on LeBron James' potential departure from the Los Angeles Lakers.

LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers before a game.
© Tim Nwachukwu/Getty ImagesLeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers before a game.

The Los Angeles Lakers made a bold decision. In spite of their inconsistent season and LeBron James’ desire to get more pieces at the trade deadline, they chose to keep their core intact.

Rob Pelinka knows how drastically things can change in the NBA and decided to pursue a championship with the same players he won in the In-Season Tournament and perhaps brace the team for the post-LeBron era.

James claimed that he didn’t know whether he would pick up his player option for next season. Nonetheless, former NBA star Gary Payton believes he’s not going anywhere.

Advertisement

Gary Payton Says LeBron Won’t Leave The Lakers

“LeBron did what he wanted — [what] he was supposed to. He said, ‘I’m staying where I’m at,’” Payton told Yahoo Sports. “He’s been traveling too many times, been to Cleveland, you know. He been to Miami, went back to Cleveland. This is his last stop, man.”

Advertisement
LeBron James

LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers

James and his camp reportedly turned down a trade offer by the Golden State Warriors, so he must be happy in Los Angeles. Also, Payton thinks the Warriors would’ve had to give up most of their core to get him, so they wouldn’t have had a competitive team in the first place:

Advertisement

“Golden State would have to give up everybody. So you only would have been playing with [LeBron] and probably Curry,” Payton said. “They’d have to give up their whole team. They would have been only LeBron and Curry. And then [Golden State] would have to bring in somebody else. They would’ve had to throw people in. So I don’t think that would have happened.”

Warriors almost paired LeBron James with Stephen Curry

see also

Staying in Los Angeles makes the most sense for James. Then again, if another team takes his firstborn son Bronny in the NBA Draft, everything could change in the blink of an eye.

Advertisement

Survey

Will LeBron leave the Lakers?

ALREADY VOTED 0 PEOPLE

ALSO READ

NFL News: Lions QB Jared Goff sends strong message after victory over Colts
NFL

NFL News: Lions QB Jared Goff sends strong message after victory over Colts

NBA News: Clippers' James Harden makes something clear on Maxey raising his voice in the Sixers
NBA

NBA News: Clippers' James Harden makes something clear on Maxey raising his voice in the Sixers

Is Cristiano Ronaldo playing today for Al Nassr vs Al Gharafa in 2024-25 AFC Champions League?
Soccer

Is Cristiano Ronaldo playing today for Al Nassr vs Al Gharafa in 2024-25 AFC Champions League?

NBA News: Heat star Jimmy Butler reveals the player who reminds him of his early years in the league
NBA

NBA News: Heat star Jimmy Butler reveals the player who reminds him of his early years in the league

Better Collective Logo