It’s safe to assume that the LA Lakers fanbase, or at least some parts of it, hasn’t fully embraced LeBron James. Carmelo Anthony called out the Lakers fans who continue to disrespect James, who has played eight seasons for the purple and gold franchise.
On the latest episode of the “7PM in Brooklyn” podcast, Anthony and guest DeMarcus Cousins discussed plenty of topics around the NBA, including James’ future. The Hall of Famer described what “The King” is experiencing in what could be his final year with the Lakers.
“He’s living long enough to be a villain,” Anthony said. “You get what I’m saying? That’s what he’s doing. He’s doing everything at the top, still holding this league down. This league don’t move without ‘Bron. I don’t give a f**k what nobody say. That’s a fact.”
Carmelo Anthony then called out the Lakers fanbase for not fully accepting LeBron James despite bringing a championship in 2020. Anthony added that Lakers fans have no right to be angry at James if he signs with the Cleveland Cavaliers next season.
“If you going to be mad at him leaving LA, f**k is you mad about?” Anthony said. “You see it written on the wall, right? Because of the influence that’s out there. Y’all pushing him out in a sense. Y’all never accepted him in LA anyway from the beginning.”
The LA Lakers are reportedly ready to move on from LeBron James after the season. Luka Doncic signed his extension, and the franchise is one of the teams getting ready to create cap space for the summer of 2027, when some of the best players could become free agents.
LeBron James comments on the possibility of retiring
Speaking to reporters before the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, LeBron James addressed the speculation about his future. James remains undecided if this will be his final season or if he moves forward this summer and joins a new team in free agency.
“When I know, you guys will know,” James said. “I don’t know. I have no idea.”
At 41 years old, James is still among the best players in the NBA. There are signs of slowing down, but it’s mainly due to dealing with sciatica at the start of the season.
Nevertheless, it’s going to be an interesting second half of the season for the LA Lakers. They did fix the shooting problem by adding Luke Kennard, but the defense and staying healthy are persistent issues.
Edited by Juan Paolo David