The Los Angeles Lakers are beginning to gear up for the All-Star break, like many teams around the league. For Los Angeles, it’s also about appreciating LeBron James’ presence, as this could be his final season with the Lakers — or in the NBA altogether. After his recent comments about potentially never playing at Madison Square Garden again, fans have been left on edge.
“At the end of the day, everything has to come to an end at some point. So, no matter what it is, it's going to be like, ‘S—, I'll never play again in Madison Square Garden. I'll never play again in certain arenas. I’ll never play again, period,” James told the media.
James has had a storied career, so if this truly is the end, it’s a job well done. However, he still wants his career to finish with a team capable of contending for a championship.
“LeBron wants to compete for a championship,” Rich Paul told ESPN. “He knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all. We are very appreciative of the partnership that we've had for eight years with Jeanie [Buss] and Rob [Pelinka] and consider the Lakers as a critical part of his career.”
After the Lakers’ loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, James was candid about why the team isn’t a true contender just yet.
“You want me to compare us to them? That's a championship team right there. We're not. We can't sustain energy and effort for 48 minutes and they can. That's why they won a championship,” James told the media.
James isn’t wrong. The Lakers have stretches where they simply refuse to play consistent defense. It’s been a season-long issue, and it continues to surface in crucial moments.
Rarely do the Lakers put together complete four-quarter performances without disappearing for extended stretches. James knows that reaching the Finals will require consistent defensive effort from start to finish. After all, the Lakers already have some of the best scorers in the game — ultimately, it all comes down to defense.