King James Gospel
Fansided

Will Lakers Fans Ever Fully Embrace LeBron?

By Charlie Kushner

CLEVELAND, OH - MAY 25: Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron James (23) reacts after hitting a three-point shot late in the game over the Celtics Jayson Tatum (not pictured) to give Cleveland a 107-96 lead, on their way to a 109-99 victory. The Boston Celtics visited the Cleveland Cavaliers for Game Six of their NBA Eastern Conference Finals playoff series at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, OH on May 25, 2018. (Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - MAY 25: Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron James (23) reacts after hitting a three-point shot late in the game over the Celtics Jayson Tatum (not pictured) to give Cleveland a 107-96 lead, on their way to a 109-99 victory. The Boston Celtics visited the Cleveland Cavaliers for Game Six of their NBA Eastern Conference Finals playoff series at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, OH on May 25, 2018. (Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) /
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With all-time greats like Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar still fresh on the minds of Los Angeles Lakers fans, will they ever truly appreciate the greatness of LeBron James?

The recent destruction of a mural honoring LeBron James is not particularly significant. Many criminals are content with destroying public pieces of art, as can be seen by the endless graffiti that coat most major cities.

But somehow, this vandalism felt different. Perhaps it was a sign of stubborn traditionalism. Maybe it represents the mythical legacies that Kobe and Magic left behind. Whatever the case maybe, this graffiti felt like a message.

A message to all new comers. You won’t be great enough. No matter what you do, what you have done,you are nothing.

For most of franchise history the Lakers have had homegrown products as their greats. Can traditional Lakers fans embrace the superstar era? Will LeBron be just another person from the Midwest, moving out to California for the sunshine?

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In a lot of ways, LeBron in a Lakers uniform feels synthetic. Is it possible that Lakers fans will view James as more of a superstar mercenary than the transcendent legend that he is?

In Cleveland, it was easy. Cavs fans fell in love with the narrative.

A homegrown kid, who took them from the depths of the NBA to the promised land. He was the “Chosen One”. “The King”. There were billboards and massive pictures slung across skyscrapers honoring him. He ruled the city.

But in L.A. LeBron may just be “chasing another ghost.” Except this time the ghost may have never had existed in the first place.

Clinging to an era far gone may doom Lakers fans. They must allow themselves to experience a new type of player. This one is not a lifetime Laker. He had nothing to do with “Showtime”. Nor does he have a skyhook. He’s not a “Mamba”. What he is is the greatest player in the era of superstardom. In a time where stars take destiny into their own hands LeBron has chosen Los Angeles.

This problem will soon resolve itself as LeBron carves a path through Laker history. He has done this time and time again, endearing himself to fans the world over.

Are Lakers fans too intrenched in their brand of greatness to tag along for a new one? Maybe Lakers fans don’t want an outsider rewriting the history books?

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Perhaps LeBron’s constant association with Cleveland will just be too much for Los Angeles diehards to digest.