"Kobe was able to win championships after Shaq was traded" - NBA insider believes Pau Gasol has greater LA Lakers legacy than LeBron James
LeBron James has built a GOAT-worthy career over two decades of basketball brilliance. He is right up there with Michael Jordan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as arguably three of the greatest to ever play the game.
As great as James’ overall NBA career has been, his stint with the LA Lakers has not been as glittering. His importance to the Lakers franchise may not be of the same degree as some other players who have donned purple and gold.
On "The Odd Couple" show, Mark Medina reacted to a recent ranking of LA Lakers greats, placing James at seventh and Pau Gasol at 12th:
“LeBron’s obviously a better player than Pau. But as far as what they mean to the Lakers organization, Pau Gasol is light years more important than LeBron James. He won more titles than LeBron James.
“Before Pau Gasol arrived there, he was going on every single radio show demanding a trade because he was upset with all the losing. Pau was that bridge of making sure that Kobe was able to win championships after Shaq was traded.
“Pau represents a lot more important things than LeBron.”
LeBron James led the LA Lakers to the 2020 championship but has missed the playoffs in two out of his four years in LA. He was also eliminated from the first round during the 2021 postseason. Unless the Lakers drastically improve this season, they could be headed for another playoff-less campaign.
Pau Gasol, on the other hand, was the impeccable Robin to Kobe Bryant’s Batman. “KB24” was so frustrated with the roster around him after the Shaquille O’Neal trade that he publicly demanded to be moved.
He even entertained the idea of playing for the LA Clippers, which would have been a slap to the late Dr. Jerry Buss.
12 years ago today, the @Lakers acquired Pau Gasol in trade with the Memphis Grizzlies 💜💜
@paugasol helped the Lakers go on to win their 15th and 16th championships 🔥🔥
#LakeShow https://t.co/W0ZVZZy5cs
The LA Lakers eventually acquired Pau Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies on February 1, 2008, just before the NBA’s trade deadline. It was a move that provided Bryant with a bonafide star who could help him carry the franchise.
With Bryant and Gasol at the core of the team, they went to three straight NBA Finals, winning back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010. LeBron James’ last four seasons with the Lakers haven’t been nearly as spectacular.
Here's the LA Times' list of top 75 Lakers and the full podcast.
LeBron James’ LA Lakers resume might not improve after two more seasons
LeBron James signed a two-year contract with the LA Lakers in the offseason, believing that the team would put him in a position to succeed. That hasn’t been the case this season and will likely not be the case moving forward.
Last season’s Lakers were horrible, and despite their retooled roster, this version could be worse.
LeBron James will be 38 before the year ends and is now in the 20th season of his career. Father Time also seems to have caught up with him a little. Despite his usual stellar averages, he seems to have very little impact on winning.
“King James” has also been dealing with various injuries. He rested a sore foot and has been out for the last couple of games due to a thigh injury.
Anthony Davis was great in the LA Lakers’ last game against the Brooklyn Nets, but his consistency and his health have been issues. Russell Westbrook is thriving as the Lakers’ sixth man but is likely to be in his last season with the team.
Over the next two seasons, James will be older. AD is as gimpy as ever and whoever they get for Westbrook’s contract may not be enough to fix the team. James’ Lakers’ ultimate resume could be no better than what it is today.