{"id":2121442,"date":"2026-08-31T22:02:38","date_gmt":"2026-08-31T19:02:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2121442"},"modified":"2026-08-31T22:02:38","modified_gmt":"2026-08-31T19:02:38","slug":"former-nba-champion-warns-the-lakers-about-lebron-james-and-his-departure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2121442","title":{"rendered":"Former NBA champion warns the Lakers about LeBron James and his departure"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/e00-xlk-ue-marca-en.uecdn.es\/files\/article_main_microformat\/uploads\/2026\/08\/19\/6a85ea812917d.jpeg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article class=\"ue-c-article\">\n<div class=\"ue-l-article__header\">\n<div class=\"ue-l-article__main-column\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__header \">\n<div class=\"ue-l-article__header-content ue-l-article--expand-right-full-from-tablet ue-l-article--expand-right-half-from-desktop\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__kicker-group\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__kicker-container\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__kicker\">Los Angeles Lakers<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h1 class=\"ue-c-article__headline js-headline js-headlineb \">Former NBA champion warns the Lakers about LeBron James and his departure<\/h1>\n<p class=\"ue-c-article__standfirst\">The Lakers have turned the page to Luka Doncic, but Horace Grant believes LeBron James\u2019 departure leaves a massive void in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ue-l-article__body\" data-section=\"articleBody\">\n<div class=\"ue-l-article__main-column ue-l-article--minimum-content-from-tablet\">\n<figure class=\"ue-c-article__media ue-c-article__media--image ue-c-article--media-icon-m-from-phablet ue-l-article--expand-left-full-from-tablet ue-c-article__media--main-media\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__media-img-container ue-l-article--expand-edge-right-until-tablet ue-l-article--expand-edge-left-until-tablet\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1320\" class=\"ue-c-article__image\" alt=\"LeBron James accused of faking a phone call to avoid fans at a hotel\" src=\"https:\/\/e00-xlk-ue-marca-en.uecdn.es\/uploads\/2026\/08\/19\/6a85ea812917d.jpeg\"><\/div><figcaption class=\"ue-c-article__media-caption\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__media-caption-inner\"><span class=\"ue-c-article__media-description\">LeBron James accused of faking a phone call to avoid fans at a hotel<\/span><span class=\"ue-c-article__media-source\"><span class=\"ue-c-article__media-author\">Karen Warren<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__bar has-avatar ue-c-article__bar--horizontal-from-tablet\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__bar-body\">\n<ul class=\"ue-c-article__byline ue-l-article--grow-from-desktop\" aria-label=\"Redacci\u00f3n:\">\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__byline-item\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__byline-name\">\n                                JOS\u00c9 RODR\u00cdGUEZ\n                    <\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__publishdate\" aria-label=\"Fecha de publicaci\u00f3n\"><span>Updated <\/span><time datetime=\"2026-08-31T22:02:38Z\">                            31\/08\/2026<br \/>\n        &#8211;<br \/>\n        <span>17:02<abbr title=\"Central Daylight Time\">CDT<\/abbr><\/span><\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__bar-footer\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-google-follow \">\n<div class=\"ue-c-google-follow__container \">\n                Follow MARCA on Google<br \/>\n            <span class=\"ue-c-google-follow__text\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__bar-secondary ue-u-hide-until-tablet ue-l-article--leftcol-width-from-tablet ue-l-article--float-left-from-tablet-no-margin ue-l-article--move-to-leftcol-from-tablet ue-u-sticky-top-80\">\n<ul class=\"ue-c-article__share-tools  ue-c-article__share-tools--direction-column js_socialMedia\" aria-label=\"Compartir art\u00edculo en Redes Sociales\">\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__share-tools-item ue-c-article__share-tools-item--facebook\"><span class=\"hidden-content\">Compartir en Facebook<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__share-tools-item ue-c-article__share-tools-item--twitter\"><span class=\"hidden-content\">Compartir en Twitter<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__share-tools-item ue-c-article__share-tools-item--telegram\"><span class=\"hidden-content\">Compartir en Telegram<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__share-tools-item ue-c-article__share-tools-item--whatsapp\"><span class=\"hidden-content\">Compartir en Whatsapp<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__share-tools-item ue-c-article__share-tools-item--email\"><span class=\"hidden-content\">Compartir por Mail<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<ul class=\"ue-c-article__subtitles ue-l-article--width-1of2-from-mobile ue-l-article--width-1of3-from-desktop ue-l-article--float-right-from-mobile ue-c-article__subtitles--boxed\" aria-label=\"Contenido relacionado\">\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__subtitles-item  \"><span class=\"ue-c-article__subtitles-kicker\">Los Angeles Lakers.\u00a0 <\/span>Blake Griffin questions Lakers\u2019 decision to give Bronny James $8 million guaranteed contract<\/li>\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__subtitles-item  \"><span class=\"ue-c-article__subtitles-kicker\">Los Angeles Lakers.\u00a0 <\/span>The heartbreaking situation that Kobe Bryant&#8217;s sister goes through every year on her daughter&#8217;s birthday<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__body\">\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph ue-c-article--first-letter-highlighted\">The<strong> Los Angeles Lakers<\/strong> spent the summer ushering in the <strong>Luka Doncic<\/strong> era, but according to <strong>Horace Grant<\/strong>, that does not make LeBron James\u2019 departure any less significant for the franchise.<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\">The former Lakers player, who won the <strong>2001 NBA championship<\/strong> with Los Angeles, warned that losing a player of James\u2019 caliber will always create a major challenge, even when the organization has already identified its new franchise cornerstone.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"ue-c-article__media ue-c-article__media--video  video-player\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__media-img-container ue-l-article--expand-edge-right-until-tablet ue-l-article--expand-edge-left-until-tablet\" id=\"player_a006f45af116f816a47651d9_xb12wiu_parent\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-video-player-frame\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-video-player-frame__wrapper\">\n<div id=\"player_a006f45af116f816a47651d9_xb12wiu\"><\/div>\n<header class=\"ue-c-video-player-frame__header\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-video-player-frame__headline\">Former NBA champion warns the Lakers about LeBron James and his departure<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ue-c-article__media-caption\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__media-caption-inner\"><span class=\"ue-c-article__media-description\">Luka Doncic beats Austin Reaves in hilarious Lakers multitasking challenge<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\"><strong>\u201cWith a guy like LeBron, I don\u2019t care if he\u2019s 50 years old,\u201d<\/strong> Grant told <strong>Action Network<\/strong>. \u201cWhen he leaves a team, it can\u2019t be good.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\">Grant also praised James for maintaining an elite level of play despite his age.<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\"><strong>\u201cI have the highest praise for LeBron being 42 and still playing at a high level,\u201d<\/strong> Grant said.<strong> \u201cI\u2019m a big fan of the young man.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\">James\u2019 departure represents one of the most significant transitions in recent Lakers history. The franchise is now built around Doncic, one of the <strong>NBA<\/strong>\u2019s most gifted offensive players, but it also means losing one of the most dominant figures the sport has ever seen.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__embedded\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet-lazy\" data-lang=\"es\"><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"ue-c-article__subheadline\">Horace Grant believes Luka Doncic changed the Lakers\u2019 future<\/h2>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\">Grant believes James quickly understood the direction the franchise was heading after Los Angeles acquired Doncic.<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\"><strong>\u201cI think LeBron knew that when Luka was traded there, that the writing was on the wall,\u201d<\/strong> Grant said. \u201cThey were going to start building around him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\">That shift became official this summer when James informed the Lakers that he would play elsewhere during his <strong>24th NBA season<\/strong>, ending an eight-year run in Los Angeles that included the <strong>2020 <\/strong>championship and a long list of individual milestones.<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\">The separation also reflected the priorities of both sides. The Lakers were looking to get younger, become more athletic and improve defensively around <strong>Donci\u0107<\/strong> and <strong>Austin Reaves<\/strong>, while James pursued a new challenge at this stage of his career.<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\"><strong>\u201cWhenever LeBron leaves, it\u2019s not a good thing,\u201d<\/strong> Grant said, <strong>\u201cbut I think it was time for him to get re-energized.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure class=\"ue-c-article__media ue-c-article__media--video  video-player\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__media-img-container ue-l-article--expand-edge-right-until-tablet ue-l-article--expand-edge-left-until-tablet\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__media-video-responsive ue-c-article__media-video-responsive--16-9\">\n<div id=\"player_a006f45af116f816a47651d9_xaz30fy\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ue-c-article__media-caption\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__media-caption-inner\"><span class=\"ue-c-article__media-description\">LeBron James accused of faking a phone call to avoid fans at a hotel<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"ue-c-article__subheadline\">History shows replacing LeBron is not easy<\/h2>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\">Grant\u2019s warning is supported by history. In James\u2019 previous departures from <strong>Cleveland in 2010<\/strong>, Miami in <strong>2014 <\/strong>and Cleveland again in <strong>2018<\/strong>, each team failed to reach the <strong>playoffs <\/strong>the following season.<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\">However, these Lakers have a different foundation. The franchise has Don\u010di\u0107 as its new centerpiece, along with Austin Reaves and a roster specifically constructed to complement its young superstar.<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\"><strong>Still, replacing LeBron\u2019s impact will be a difficult task.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\">Last season, James averaged<strong> 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists<\/strong> while continuing to show the ability to take over important playoff games at <strong>41 years old<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\">His departure represents more than the loss of production. The Lakers are also losing his leadership, experience, playmaking ability and presence within the locker room.<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\">Los Angeles has made it clear that the future belongs to <strong>Luka Doncic<\/strong>. Now the franchise must prove it can move into this new era without taking a step back from the success achieved during LeBron\u2019s tenure.<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\">The Luka era has officially begun. The first challenge will be proving the Lakers can move forward while replacing the impact of one of the greatest players in basketball history.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<hr class=\"taboola-art-mid-script\" data-ue-is-premium=\"false\" data-ue-is-basic=\"true\" data-ue-is-mobile=\"false\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__tags-container\">\n<ul class=\"ue-c-article__tags\" aria-label=\"Etiquetado como:\">\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__tags-item\">Luka Don\u010di\u0107<\/li>\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__tags-item\">Los Angeles Lakers<\/li>\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__tags-item\">Lebron James<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__related-news \" aria-label=\"Art\u00edculos relacionados\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__related-news-item\"><span class=\"ue-c-article__related-news-kicker\">Los Angeles Lakers <\/span>Blake Griffin questions Lakers\u2019 decision to give Bronny James $8 million guaranteed contract<\/div>\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__related-news-item\"><span class=\"ue-c-article__related-news-kicker\">Los Angeles Lakers <\/span>Luka Doncic surprises new mom who named her baby Luka in heartwarming Kobe Day moment<\/div>\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__related-news-item\"><span class=\"ue-c-article__related-news-kicker\">Los Angeles Lakers <\/span>Who is Anja Jenko? Meet the Playboy model linked to Luka Doncic\u2019s ultra-exclusive Lakers party in Slovenia<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ue-c-popular-links js-featured-links ue-c-popular-links--closed\">\n<ul class=\"list ue-c-popular-links__list hidden-content\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<li class=\"ue-c-popular-links__list-item \">NBA<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"ue-l-article__secondary-column\">\n<div class=\"ue-l-article__secondary-column-item\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-ad ue-c-ad--label\" role=\"region\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-ad__inner\">\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-basketball_nba_los-angeles-lakers_n_b300x100_a006f45af116f816a47651d9\" class=\"publicidad ue-autorefresh-bind\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ue-l-article__secondary-column-item ue-l-article--grow\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-ad ue-c-ad--label ue-c-ad--sticky\" role=\"region\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-ad__inner\">\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-basketball_nba_los-angeles-lakers_n_r_a006f45af116f816a47651d9\" class=\"publicidad ue-autorefresh-bind\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ue-l-article__secondary-column-item ue-l-article--grow js-notice-sticky\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-ad ue-c-ad--label ue-c-ad--sticky\" role=\"region\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-ad__inner\">\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-basketball_nba_los-angeles-lakers_n_rb_a006f45af116f816a47651d9\" class=\"publicidad ue-autorefresh-bind\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.marca.com\/en\/basketball\/nba\/los-angeles-lakers\/2026\/09\/01\/former-nba-champion-warns-the-lakers-about-lebron-james-and-his-departure.html&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/e00-xlk-ue-marca-en.uecdn.es\/files\/article_main_microformat\/uploads\/2026\/08\/19\/6a85ea812917d.jpeg&#8221;] Los Angeles Lakers Former NBA champion warns the Lakers about LeBron James and his departure The Lakers have turned the page to Luka Doncic, but Horace Grant believes LeBron James\u2019 departure leaves a massive void in Los Angeles. LeBron James accused of faking a phone call to avoid fans at a hotelKaren [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,45],"class_list":["post-2121442","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-marca-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2121442","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2121442"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2121442\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2121442"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2121442"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2121442"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}