LeBron’s First Season In Los Angeles Is LeDone

Basketball | 3/7/19

Photo Credit: Harry How/Getty Images

LeBron James’ chances of leading the Los Angeles Lakers to the playoffs in 2019 have failed. Going into the all-star break in a position to make a push for the 8th seed, the Lakers tried to trade for Anthony Davis, ready to give up all their young players in exchange.

The trade never happened, and those players have reacted by turning on the team. It’s not LeBron’s fault, but don’t tell the sports media that. The Lakers have gone 3-6 since the returning from the break, and stand more than six games behind the Western Conference eight seed. The season, which once seemed so promising, has turned into what sports fans lovingly call a “dumpster fire.”

Unfortunately for everyone except LeBron, that fire is going to burn a lot of people out of job at the end of the season. The biggest loss will be Luke Walton. Tasked with turning Los Angeles back into a perennial title contender, Walton has failed miserably to live up to the reputation he built as Steve Kerr’s right hand man in Golden State.

The cuts to the Lakers organization could go even deeper than just Walton, though. Several reports indicate that Magic Johnson and general manager Rob Pelinka no longer see eye-to-eye. It doesn’t help that Pelinka is being blamed for the public leaks about the who Los Angeles offered New Orleans for Davis.

Sorry, LeBron, your first season in Los Angeles is officially over. At least you passed Michael Jordan on the all-time scoring list!