The Los Angeles Lakers are the second-most decorated team in the NBA. They have won 16 titles and have always been of the best teams in the league. But following the 2010 victory, their results have been dry. The team was lackluster and had failed to make the playoffs for five years by the time LeBron James arrived.
Bron’s first season was successful, but fans were unhappy. While talking about these fans, LeBron said, “What I’ve learned from being a Laker is that the Laker faithful don’t give a damn about what you’ve done before… Until you’ve done it as a Laker, they don’t care.”
Former Laker Matt Barnes agreed with these statements. He said that fans had a lot of expectations from LeBron and they wouldn’t settle for anything less than the best. Barnes said, “The Lakers have one of the realest, rawest, in-your-face fan bases. When he first came here two years ago there were a lot of people who loved the move. But a lot of people weren’t happy and said he had to really earn his stripes, because everybody wanted to put him on the Lakers Mount Rushmore already.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Will LeBron James retire as a Laker great?
Barnes believes that Bron could retire as the Lakers GOAT. He said that LeBron was on his way to getting the Lakers their 17th ring and could potentially get them a shot at the 18th next year. Barnes said:
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
“He is in the process of earning everyone’s love and respect. He’ll win his first ring this year, and he has a chance to win another ring next year. But when it’s all said and done, he’ll be an all-time Lakers great, an all-time Lakers favorite. He and AD will be able to hang their jerseys up there one day.”
If the Lakers go on to win the ring, they will be on level terms with rivals Celtics who also have 17 rings. Bron has already stopped the Celtics four times, back when he was in the East. While it has taken him over a year to get to this point, he can now be counted amongst the Lakers greats.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad