By the time Kobe Bryant completed his 20 years in the NBA and decided to hang up his shoes both the Los Angeles Lakers and the Black Mamba were actively looking for a superstar to lead the young future stars namely Brandon Ingram, DeAngelo Russell, Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma and other who kept coming in through drafts or trades around 2016.
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They didn’t get any success until finally in 2018, LeBron James hit free agency for the second time in Cleveland and decided to leave the Cavaliers again in 2010.
Although, it wasn’t so much drama in the media as the last time. In fact, there was drama, but, a good one that saw Reggie Miller and Chris Webber do a mock drill set up the great Dan Patrick.
Reggie Miller would bring Kobe Bryant and other Lakers legends together for recruiting LeBron James
In an episode of the Dan Patrick Show the sports media veteran had two legendary players of the NBA on his show and asked them to play a trading game to bring the then-Cleveland MVP to LA.
He assigned Miller with the task of bringing in LeBron to the Lakers while Webber had to be the Cavaliers’ management and counter it from happening.
Reggie said if he was Magic Johnson, he’ll assemble all the Lakers’ championship trophies and big-name stars including James Worthy, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Kobe Bean Bryant.
C-Webb mocked his recruitment pitch hilariously and said he’d just have to tell the King that Bryant would always come first for the Lakers even after retirement, and why else would Magic bring him to the meeting? Watch it in the following embed.
How have the Lakers done since James came in 2018
Unlike his 2014-18 Cavaliers tenure, the four years in LA haven’t been as successful. Although he did bring in Anthony Davis in 2019, and a championship in 2020, apart from that, not have one good season.
A lot of things played part in it. But LeBron and Rob Palinka messed up the whole squad first while bringing in AD, then to bring in reinforcements for the 2020-21, and 2021–22 seasons. Neither of which worked in any way, shape, or form.