Lakers Express Gratitude for LeBron James Era at Preseason Event
General Manager Rob Pelinka thanked the star forward for his eight seasons with the team as they usher in a new chapter.
The Los Angeles Lakers organization has formally expressed its gratitude for the "LeBron era" following the departure of star forward LeBron James.
General Manager Rob Pelinka began the team's preseason media availability by thanking James for his eight seasons with the Lakers. "Clearly, new team, new players, and that's what we're going to talk about today, but we just as an organization are so grateful for the run that we had with him here," Pelinka stated. "The Lakers have become, as they should, a perennial playoff team. It was a great era, and we're grateful for it."
James informed the Lakers this summer that he would not return for the 2026-27 season and would enter free agency. The veteran forward ultimately signed a two-year, $8 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers. The Lakers have since undergone a significant roster overhaul, headlined by the signing of center Walker Kessler to a four-year, $130 million contract. Pelinka and head coach JJ Redick addressed the media for the first time on Thursday to discuss these changes, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the team with Luka Doncic now set to lead as captain.