LeBron James is set to turn 40 years old during the 2024-25 NBA season. But as he heads into his 22nd NBA season, one Fox Sports analyst believes that his “primary goal” is no longer winning championships.
On Friday’s edition of Speak, analyst Emmanuel Acho made the case that the moves the Lakers and LeBron have made this offseason suggest that he isn’t prioritizing winning championships over everything else. His evidence was the hiring of J.J. Redick as head coach, re-signing with the Lakers and having the Lakers draft his son, Bronny James.
“LeBron’s primary objective is no longer winning championships. It’s not winning championships because if his primary objective was to win a championship I don’t know that J.J. Redick would be the head coach. If his primary objective was to win a championship, I don’t know that he would be playing for the Lakers. If his primary objective was to win a championship I don’t know that Bronny James would be on the team. So I don’t know that his primary objective is to win a championship. I think the Lakers and LeBron James have two different goals,” Acho said.
“LeBron’s primary goal was to play with his son. He did everything within his power to play with his son and he did and I’m happy for LeBron for doing that… Now if you’re a Lakers fan, you should have your concerns. Because the Lakers and LeBron are serving two completely different masters: The Lakers are serving the god of winning. LeBron James is serving the god of playing with Bronny James and having the coach who he knows well…
“So for LeBron James, the offseason was a WILD success and shoutout to LeBron for doing that. But for the Lakers? You didn’t get better, you didn’t get the coach you wanted, your roster didn’t improve in the nature that you wanted… all of the teams that were already better than you have continued to get better…”
It’s an interesting case he makes and there’s been no shortage of pushback on the assertion.
Do you agree with Acho? Are the Lakers and LeBron on different wavelengths here?
Related: Details Emerge From Bronny James’ Rookie Contract With Lakers