James' power in the Lakers has surpassed Kobe Bryant is not yet satisfied The relationship between the two sides is extremely tense at the beginning of the war.
According to the latest news from NBA well-known journalist Bill Oram, LeBron James's power in the Lakers exceeds Kobe Bryant, but James is not satisfied, and James and his business partner Rich Paul's Klutch Sports company are still demanding more and more power.
Bill Oram confirmed with the Los Angeles Times that after James came to Los Angeles to join the Lakers in 2018, Lakers owner Jenny Bass and the entire management were trying to please him, and in four years, James's power in the Lakers has exceeded that of Kobe Bryant, who has played with the Lakers for 20 years. Whatever happens, lakers management needs to consult James, and his opinion plays a decisive role.
"James' status on the Lakers is as important as Kobe Bryant, and news from the Lakers' management has always said that even the Lakers' most legendary 'black mamba' Bryant does not have as much power as James throughout his career." Bill Oram said in the report. James at the Lakers decides important things like the team's personnel changes, drafts and trades.
"James and his agent, Rich Paul, were the main driver of the Lakers' trade with Anthony Davis." Bill Oram said, "Last summer, general manager Rob Pelinka desperately wanted to get Buddy Hield, but James' management instinct put pressure on Pelinka, and Pelinka was forced to choose to trade with the Wizards to bring in Westbrook, thus missing Hield. Bill Oram continued to explode in the report.
Pelinka was instructed by James and his team to make a deal for Westbrook, but before the mid-season trade deadline, James and Rich paul asked for a trade. Pelinka's refusal to send out the 2027 first-round pick to replace Wei Shao, the mid-season trade decision to stay on track, and no changes to the 27-31 lineup made James quite unhappy.
"James' relationship with Lakers management is quite strained, and sources close to Lakers management describe the relationship as 'early in the war.'" James has one season left on his contract with the Lakers, and there are indications that tension between the two sides is enough to lead to a parting this summer.
In Los Angeles, the strategy of pleasing superstars is nothing new, and Bryant has a say in player trades, and the Lakers gave him a two-year, $49.5 million contract after Kobe Bryant's Achilles tendon was torn. "Kobe Bryant played for the Lakers for 20 years, and he was the totem of Los Angeles and the entire NBA." A source at lakers management told Bill Oram, "Bryant also doesn't have more excessive demands and powers from management, and James is constantly asking Lakers owners and management to meet his requirements." ”
After the deal deadline, James and his business partner Klutch Sports publicly expressed their desire to leave the Lakers through various media outlets. "James knew exactly what he wanted and he knew what he was talking about and doing." Bill Oram said, "James's war with the Lakers has only just begun, and this war will continue into this summer. ”
Multiple reporters for the Los Angeles Times, including Jovan Buha and Andrew Greif, told Bill Oram that the Lakers would continue to please superstars, but their relationship with James could no longer be sustained.
