It’s my job to always remain strong & to show them the blueprint regardless of the outcome! #JamesGang #BryceMaximus 🤴 #MyTwin
Basketball is perhaps the largest team sport where a single player can make the biggest difference. This is perfectly illustrated by how much has changed within the Lakers organization since LeBron James joined them in 2018.
The Lakers were in the midst of a rebuild before James joined Los Angeles, and their young core was still developing and not doing much to help the team return to the playoffs. Internally, the company also had growing pains as a result of the hiring of a new basketball operations staff, which led many to doubt the team’s ownership and future plans.
James gave the franchise the exact set of calm hands they needed to lead them into their next age of basketball, even if there were ultimately a variety of actions that helped stabilize what was an unsteady time within the organization.
In addition to his outstanding on-court performance, James elevated the squad by luring a number of players to go to the West thanks to a flourishing bullpen of Klutch clients. Anthony Davis was the most well-known of those who joined him in purple and gold.
After five seasons and one title, the Lakers will probably find themselves back in the mix this coming season, with James’ presence being a key factor.
James, though, is definitely in the twilight of his career as he begins his 21st season and approaches the age of 40. It is unclear how much longer he will decide to play as a result of his comments made after the Los Angeles Lakers’ defeat to the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals, which not so gently alluded to a potential retirement in the not-too-distant future.
But Lakers controlling owner and president Jeanie Buss has made it abundantly clear that the franchise would commemorate James’ contributions when the time comes, regardless of when James decides to put up his sneakers for good.
Buss spoke about a variety of team-related issues in an interview with Mark Medina of Sportskeeda, including how and when the Lakers will go about inducting James’ name and number alongside the rest of their icons.
Induction into the Hall of Fame is the prerequisite for having a player’s jersey retired as a Laker. Buss told Sportskeeda, “I have zero doubt that LeBron will enter the Basketball Hall of Fame.
“When he accomplishes this, his jersey will be retired. There is no doubt that he will have his Lakers jersey retired since he knows he will be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.
James will undoubtedly fulfill the strict requirements set forth by the Lakers to be inducted into the Hall of Fame once he retires, and upon doing so, he will achieve a feat that only 12 other players had before: having their jersey hung from the team’s rafters.
James has served the team for five seasons and has earned this accolade despite getting older. James has led the Lakers in total points, assists, and rebounds since joining the team, according to PBP records, in addition to helping the team win another championship.
It’s important to note that James is about to reach the final year of his contract with Los Angeles, despite the fαct that he recently put the retirement rᴜmors on wait by announcing his comeback for the following season. It’s possible that he will continue to play for a number of years, but it’s uncertain whether it will happen while wearing a Lakers jersey.
Looking ahead, James’ eventual jersey retirement may have a future oddity because he has worn two different numbers while playing with the Lakers. He will allegedly return to wearing No. 23 in the upcoming season.
The only player in NBA history to have had two of his numbers retired by a single team is currently Kobe Bryant. What name will follow him next, James?
Buss stated in the interview that “that’s a discussion for another time.”
