Stephen A. Smith put forward a pressing question, hours after LeBron James hinted about his retirement. Last night, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar dropped a ticking time bomb during his press interaction after dishing out a 40-pointer. While the NBA world has witnessed similar updates from the superstar, the veteran analyst read between the lines and asked a concerning question regarding the Purple & Gold team’s future.
In the latest episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show, he referred to James’ “I don’t have much time” statement and dived deeper into his analysis. While decoding the words, he asked the concerning question; “Is this the last dance for the Los Angeles Lakers?” A. Smith further discussed the Lakers’ poor standing in the West, despite the explosive performance. He also added, “You can’t get it done now. I don’t believe you’re gonna get it done next year.”
Until last night, the LeBron James retirement was nowhere in the conversation. A few days ago, King James was seen having a friendly chat with the Lakers owner Jeanie Buss on the courtside during Women’s Day. Many analysts decoded the idea behind the chat and stated that LBJ might sign another whooping 3-year deal with the Lakers.
On the other hand, James expressed his wish to play alongside Bronny James on the big stage. Unfortunately, the 19-year-old had a dip in his performance, so that dream has been postponed for another year. While fans expected James Sr. to stay longer with all the given circumstances, his latest statement is surely a dagger through their hearts.
Amid fans’ emotional rollercoaster, Stephen A. Smith further added salt to the injury. He stated that the Lakers won’t have a similar impact in the next season. He added, “As long as he’s staying in Los Angeles… he’s got to go for it… cuz tomorrow damn sure ain’t guaranteed.”
Who will replace LeBron James on the Lakers roster?
As James hinted that his exit from the sport is not very long away, Stephen A. Smith stressed that it could be the ‘Last dance for the Lakers’. After LBJ’s exit, the team will have a huge void to fill. A place that stars like Kobe Bryant and LeBron James held for many years. Moreover, A. Smith warned that it won’t work for the LA side, even if they find a 3rd superstar!
Importantly, to validate his statement, he listed the examples of teams that traded in their third superstar and failed. He said, “How’s that working out in Phoenix? KD, Bradley Beal, Devin Booker. How’s that working out?”. Eventually, he concluded his analysis by saying that if James chose to stay with the LA side, then it was the last dance for both him and the team.
However, on a serious note, Kyrie Irving can fill in the big boots of James in the Lakers thread. The 32-year-old is a former teammate and has won a championship alongside him. The 8x All-Star has put up a steady average of 23.6 points in his 13-season-long career. Apart from that, he also holds global popularity, just like the other superstars.
Who do you think can replace LeBron James? Let us know in the comments.
