It’s that time of the year again my friends.
No, I’m not talking about the New Year, or referencing the horrible practice of torture known as “Dry January.” I’m instead referring to the thing that happens every year in the NBA around this time: LeBron James hating his team and wanting to trade everyone on it.
James has been given the nickname “LeGM” over the years because he seems to have a lot of power when it comes to roster management. Most teams leave that to their general managers or coaches, but it’s usually around this time where the Los Angeles Lakers start struggling, and LeBron starts pointing fingers and shipping out his teammates.
That’s why memes like this exist:
After winning the NBA’s inaugural In-Season Tournament, LeBron and the Lakers have lost 10 of their last 13 games. Are they cursed because they hung a banner in their arena for what is kind of a made up tournament? I’m not usually superstitious, but the basketball gods might not be looking onto that kindly.
Los Angeles lost a home game to an 11 and 23 Memphis Grizzlies team last night (who now have Ja Morant back), even with their stars in James and Anthony Davis both scoring over 30 points.
There’s a feeling of “what more can LeBron and AD do” after a game like that, and James was visibly and audibly frustrated in his post game interview, keeping one his answers short and sweet when asked what was happening with the Lakers:
“We just suck right now.”
One of the more interesting soundbites that was collected from post-game interviews was something that a reporter overheard James say in the background. They were interviewing Anthony Davis, and heard one of LeBron’s teammates Austin Reaves ask if James’ son Bronny would be starting in his game at USC tomorrow night.
LeBron allegedly said loudly (as if he wanted the entire locker room and media members there to hear):
“He (Bronny) could play for us right now. Easy. EASY.”
James has been adamant about wanting to play with his son Bronny in the NBA. He’s currently in his first year at USC, and recently recovered from a scary cardiac arrest event that sidelined him for an extended period of time.
Bronny definitely has a lot of potential, but implying that he could be playing for the Lakers “right now” is without a doubt a shot at LeBron’s current teammates. If any sports book let’s you take the over on “percentage of Los Angeles Lakers that will be traded at the demand of LeBron James,” take it…
(Disclaimer: I’m not a sports betting professional or financial advisor…I’m actually really bad at sports betting)
