When LeBron James came to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018, he instantly made them relevant again after they had missed the NBA playoffs five straight times. He and fellow superstar Anthony Davis delivered the franchise the Larry O’Brien Trophy in 2020, yet as time went on afterward, some Lakers fans soured on him.
There were quite a few Lakers fans who had wanted James gone for a couple of years, and on June 30, they got their wish when James let the team know he was moving on in free agency. He remains a free agent, and the organization has already moved on and started to assemble a roster around and for Luka Doncic.
Former Laker Derek Fisher admitted that he doesn’t quite understand why some don’t appreciate James’ tenure with the team. Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who, like Fisher, won five NBA championships with L.A., urged fans to appreciate what the four-time MVP did while with the Purple and Gold.
“LeBron was a winner on and off the court, and Laker fans should appreciate his performance for the last 8 years,” Abdul-Jabbar wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “If LeBron goes home to Cleveland, it won’t matter if they win the World Championship or not because his hometown fans will get their opportunity to say their goodbyes to one of the greatest ever.”
@KingJames LeBron was a winner on and off the court, and Laker fans should appreciate his performance for the last 8 years. If LeBron goes home to Cleveland, it won’t matter if they win the World Championship or not because his hometown fans will get their opportunity to say… pic.twitter.com/TbqcidzTt0
— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (@kaj33) June 30, 2026
Indeed, it seems the Cleveland Cavaliers are the team James is most likely to play for this coming season. He spent his first seven pro seasons with them, and after leaving in 2010 to head to the Miami Heat, he returned for four more years in 2014.
During his second tenure with Cleveland, the Akron, Ohio native led the Cavaliers to their first world title in 2016 by guiding them past the 73-win Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals after trailing the series three games to one.
James certainly made his mark in the Lakers’ legacy. Perhaps it wasn’t the same kind of mark Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant or even Shaquille O’Neal made, but he still elevated the franchise at a time when it desperately needed a pick-me-up.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar urges Lakers fans to appreciate LeBron James
