LeBron James has pushed back on the idea that basketball was not his primary motivation for joining the Los Angeles Lakers, saying he embraced the pressure that came with representing one of the NBA’s most successful franchises.
When James arrived in Los Angeles, some questioned whether opportunities away from basketball, particularly in the entertainment industry, played a major role in his decision.
James said those assumptions overlooked his desire to take on another significant challenge.
“A lot of people said when I came to the Lakers, I was just coming to be in Hollywood and do movies and shit like that. But I’ve always loved a huge challenge. To come to a historical franchise that has some of the greatest basketball players that we’ve ever seen in the history of sports. To be a part of that, one was like a super duper big thing to me. It was super cool and humbling at the same time.”
Joining the Lakers also meant becoming part of a tradition established by generations of legendary players.
James recalled seeing himself alongside franchise greats shortly after signing and immediately recognizing that expectations in Los Angeles were different.
“When I signed with the Lakers, there’s a Sports Illustrated cover that they had all the Laker greats on it and then I was on there. I was like, ‘Holy shit, this is different.’ So the expectations around here in Los Angeles when it comes to the Lakers is like, ‘Let’s win championships,’ and I heard that and I understood that. And for us to be able to win one, that was something I will never forget. With that group, with that team, for this city.”
