If he was looking to make a change, one might think that LeBron – the best basketball player of his generation (and potential future-GOAT?) – would have a few teams to choose from.
He could have gone with the Houston Rockets (who came criminally close to stealing the series from the Golden State Warriors). Or perhaps the 76ers, who with a young and talented team next year are tipped to take the Eastern Conference series.
Either of those would have better ensured LeBron had a better shot at his next championship. But no. LeBron is going to the Los Angeles Lakers; a team that only won 35 games last year.
The reasons for this are many: rumour is that LeBron’s family loves California, and there’s probably no better place to start putting down roots for a post-playing career than Hollywood. Or, it could be as simple as he has a long time friend in Lakers president Magic Johnson.
According to a statement made by a Lakers spokesperson:
“In Cleveland, James played for Dan Gilbert and in Miami for Pat Riley. He relates to Johnson, the Lakers president, on an entirely different level. In terms of personality, playing style, community involvement and business aspiration, there may be only one figure in sports quite like James, and it’s Johnson. James’s associates could sense that the idea of a partnership with Johnson enthralled him.”
When LeBron first burst onto the basketball scene, his style was oft compared to Johnson’s proclivity towards an aggressive but fast-paced type of play.
It’s fitting then, that ‘Magic’ should be there to continue to guide LeBron going forward (although, perhaps this time there’ll be more coaching off the court than on it).
