The Los Angeles Lakers are in an unusual spot when it comes to LeBron James, who until last season was the staple of the organization. The Lakers traded for Luka Doncic and this offseason, they are building around him, not James, which is the first time in his career that is happening.
This has sparked conversations about being on the trade block for the first time in his career and ESPN’s Brian Windhorst isn’t shutting the door to the possibility.
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“My conversations over the last 3 days have crystallized that the Lakers are essentially viewing LeBron as an expiring contract… I’m just unlocking the door because I am not as convinced as before if it’s impossibility,” Windhorst said.
Speaking of Windhorst, Austin Rivers recently discussed on his podcast about how James forced him to change the way of reporting when he called him out.
“After LeBron made those comments, I think Windy went home that night, put on a cold shower and sat there, hands on the wall. I think he had hands on the wall and debriefed — for about an hour. And came out of that shower a different man. And said to himself, ‘F**k these guys. I’m gonna start talking a little bit.’ Because he’s been talking a little bit,” Rivers said. “The LeBron thing, turning on him has affected him. He’s giving some hot takes. He’s talking some trash a little bit.”
The comments he is referring to is when James called Windhorst weird on the Pat McAfee Show back in March.
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“I’ve seen Brian Windhorst on one of these shows not too long ago… This guy says he’s like my f*cking best friend. These guys are just weird,” James said.
James criticized Windhorst pretty heavily and it comes after he has covered him for the majority of his career. It seems as if James isn’t changing players on the court, but also Windhorst, who has covered him since nearly the beginning.