Los Angeles Lakers superstar Lebron James is reportedly frustrated playing with fellow star Anthony Davis,
The Los Angeles Lakers far exceeded many NBA analysts’ expectations this season. Especially, after getting off to a horrible start to their 2022-2023 campaign. However, after a slew of trades in February, all the pieces for the roster and new head coach Darvin Ham seemed to fall into place and the team became a force in the Western Conference.
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They caught fire in the final months of the season, advanced to the postseason, and knocked the Memphis Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors out of the playoffs. Unfortunately, they were soundly beaten by the eventual champion Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals.
Yet, despite all the positive vibes and big hopes for next season, there are apparently some major issues inside the Los Angeles Lakers organization. Lebron James surprised many by hinting at retirement after the team’s May elimination, and part of that may be a disinterest in continuing to play with fellow star Anthony Davis.
Lebron James doesn’t believe in Anthony Davis’ toughness
During a Tuesday appearance on the “Zach Gelb Show,” CBS Sports NBA insider Bill Reiter claimed James is “over” Davis and trading him could be something the future Hall-of-Famer secretly hopes for.
“I’ve heard he’s over Anthony Davis. He’s frustrated with the guy. He doesn’t believe in his toughness, for obvious reasons,” said Reiter. “So I’m extremely curious if the Lakers — and I don’t think they will — do anything bold. I’m just saying, Lebron James is angry and put out. He doesn’t believe in his No. 2. I think LA is under a lot of pressure to do something big, from Lebron.”
While Reiter believes a trade is highly unlikely, he claims that the leverage general manager Rob Pelinka earned with his trades in February is the main reason Lebron James may not get his way.
“If Rob Pelinka hadn’t pulled off such a really impressive slate of moves at the trade deadline, and brought in these random guys that became not so random, and made the Lakers a team that made the conference finals, if that hadn’t happened my percentage [that a Davis trade happens] would be higher,” Reiter says. “There’s a bit of a power struggle, or a political struggle going on between Lebron and Pelinka.”
This certainly should be something to watch in the months ahead of Lebron James doesn’t make it abundantly clear he will be back in 2023-2024.