LeBron, thank you for bringing a championship back to Los Angeles in 2020. No matter what anyone says, that title will always mean something special to me and millions of Lakers fans around the world. I do not care how many people try to discredit it by calling it a “bubble championship.” Every team entered the bubble with the exact same opportunity, the exact same conditions, and the exact same goal. There were no home crowds, no travel advantages, and no excuses. You still had to beat the best teams in the league, and that is exactly what you did.
That season was unlike anything any of us had ever experienced. The world came to a stop, people were dealing with uncertainty every single day, and basketball became something that brought people together again. Watching the Lakers win Banner 17 during such a difficult time gave so many fans a reason to smile, and that is something I will never forget.
You led by example from the very beginning. Your leadership, your consistency, and your determination set the tone for the entire team. Whether it was making the right play, taking over when the moment called for it, or keeping everyone focused on the ultimate goal, you showed why you are one of the greatest players to ever touch a basketball.
People can debate eras, rankings, and legacies forever, but they can never erase what happened in 2020. That championship is part of Lakers history forever. The banner hangs in the rafters just like every other championship banner, and nobody can ever change that.
Thank you for helping bring another title to one of the greatest franchises in sports. Thank you for every unforgettable playoff performance, every clutch moment, and every sacrifice you made to help this team reach the top again. Banner 17 will always be one of my favorite memories as a Lakers fan, and I will always appreciate everything you did to make it happen.
Thank you, LeBron. Forever a Lakers champion. 💜💛🏆
JEANIE BUSS STATEMENT ON LEBRON LEAVING:
“LeBron James is one of the greatest athletes in history. We will always be thankful for his eight years with the Lakers - including the title he led us to in 2020 under the toughest imaginable circumstances and the countless records he broke in purple and gold. We wish him all the best in the future, both on the court and off. He will always be a cherished part of the Lakers family."
This one stings for sure but not completely unexpected here we go.
Thank you, LeBron James. 💜💛
In 2018, you chose the Lakers when the franchise had missed the playoffs for six consecutive seasons and belief was at an all time low. Two years later, you brought Los Angeles its 17th championship and earned Finals MVP, delivering a title during one of the most difficult seasons the league has ever experienced.
Over eight seasons in purple and gold, you gave Lakers fans a championship, the inaugural NBA Cup and tournament MVP, a Western Conference Finals run, the night you passed Kareem to become the NBA’s all time leading scorer, the moment you became the first player to reach 40,000 points and the unforgettable experience of making history alongside Bronny.
And so many more memories
It wasn’t always perfect, and it didn’t end the way many of us hoped. But nothing can erase what you accomplished here. You chose Los Angeles when it was easier to stay away, accepted every expectation that came with wearing this jersey and added another banner to the rafters.
Whatever uniform comes next, you will always be a Lakers champion.
Thank you for everything, LeBron. 🐐
#LakeShow
This was the moment for me that I’ll never forget. He held it down, carried the torch, and he finished the job.
No one can tell me anything about his Laker tenure. No one.