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Los Angeles Lakers: Examining LeBron’s potentially complicated legacy

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 10: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers and LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers match up during the first half at Staples Center on March 10, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and condition of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 10: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers and LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers match up during the first half at Staples Center on March 10, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and condition of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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Even if the title of the best basketball player on the planet now goes to someone else, Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James is still the face of the NBA.

The Los Angeles Lakers have the luxury of having the face of American Sports don the purple and gold, even if he joined the team past his prime.

LeBron James is the most recognizable American athlete in the world and is still one of the best basketball players on the planet. LeBron critics might say otherwise, but the numbers that LeBron continues to put up are best in the world worthy.

Heck, it was not long ago that LeBron single-handily carried a pretty poor Cleveland Cavaliers team all the way to the NBA Finals with superhuman efforts. That was still only 14 months ago.

While some may no longer call LeBron the best in the league, there is no denying the legacy and impact he is going to leave on the sport. You don’t get in the discussion with Michael Jordan by accident and right now, LeBron’s worst-case scenario is to finish as the second-greatest basketball player of all-time.

If you just go off of pure all-around skill-set, prime LeBron certainly gives Jordan a run for his money.

That legacy is a bit more complicated with Laker fans. For years, LeBron was viewed as some sort of rival to Kobe Bryant. Despite the fact that the two never even met in the playoffs, most Kobe fans could not stand LeBron because of the hype and the fact that people thought he was better than Kobe.

That is a discussion for another day but that is what made it so interesting that LeBron signed with the Lakers. He obviously was not going to let that stand in the way of his best career choice but Laker fans did have to swallow some of their criticism and welcome LeBron with open arms.

Still have not done that, especially after James was unable to carry the Los Angeles Lakers to the playoffs in his first year.

With Anthony Davis now on the Lakers and the team being a bonafide title-contender, it creates a potentially complicated legacy for LeBron, at least with Laker fans.

If you have been in a LeBron-Kobe debate, which if you are reading this you probably have been, then you know one of the first things on Kobe Bryant’s side of the argument is his championships. Kobe has five, LeBron currently only has three.

You could bring in Kobe’s 81-point game, his killer mentality and the fact that as his peak he was one of the best scorers of all-time. That might not be completely fair, though, as LeBron brings more to the table than just scoring.

Regardless, the rings argument is certainly up there as one of the first that fans turn to. However, LeBron’s career is not over. And not that he has a new running mate in Anthony Davis, there is a very real chance that he could win two more to tie Kobe Bryant.

That is where the complication begins. Laker fans obviously want to see their team win a title at all costs, but winning two more titles with LeBron gives him the edge in the ring department.

Suddenly, the best argument for the most popular player in franchise history is moot. And if you really stand by the rings argument, do you then have to accept that LeBron James is better than Bryant?

For a fanbase that is so passionate about Kobe, it is easy to see where there could be conflicting beliefs. Kobe will still be the greatest Laker of all-time without a doubt, but the overall legacy debate would definitively shift in LeBron’s favor.

Next. We are going to see a reinvented DeMarcus Cousins. dark

What do you think? If you are a diehard Kobe Bryant fan, let us know how you would feel if the Los Angeles Lakers won two or more titles with LeBron in the comments down below as well as on Twitter and Facebook.

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