Is There Still Tension Between LeBron James and the Lakers? What Happens Next?

Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

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4.4 • 1.6K Ratings

🗓️ 14 May 2026

⏱️ 43 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

The Lakers are at yet another crossroads with LeBron James, and even as it seems like the interests of the franchise and the interests of its former franchise player are more aligned than they were six months ago, there's still the lingering question of whether James returns to the team next year. Those questions got a little question-ier when ESPN's Dave McMenamin -- certainly very well plugged in to the LeBron camp -- authored a story describing moments of frostiness between James and the team. It included slights (whether real or perceived) and some potentially odd behavior that would be legitimately disrespectful by the team towards LeBron. But the bigger question is what all of this means. How much do moments like these matter for a player that may not have tons of appealing options to play meaningful basketball next year (especially if James demands a big salary), a franchise that doesn't have lots of easy ways to replace him, and a history together that has always been more transactional than emotional? In the grand history of LeDrama, how much does any of this even register? No question, the context is different. LeBron is at a different part of his career. He's always had control of the relationship not only with his team, but with the league more broadly. His role on teams he'll play on is different. So what does it mean? HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: New instances of LeDrama? SEGMENT 2: Why does this happen? SEGMENT 3: What's next for James and the Lakers? Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGYGet candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY®️ Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon KALSHIFor a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything. DoorDashFrom tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.DoorDash. In your bag all season long. Rocket MoneyLet Rocket Money help you reach your financial goals faster. Join athttps://RocketMoney.com/LOCKEDON. WayfairHead to https://Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home. Wayfair. Every style. Every home. IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuelToday's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Transcript

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0:00.0	The Lakers season finishes kind of how it started with intrigue about the relationship
0:04.9	between LeBron and the franchise.
0:07.5	That's next.
0:13.6	You are Locked-on Lakers.
0:16.1	Your daily Los Angeles Lakers podcast.
0:18.5	Part of the Locked-on Podcast Network, your team every day.
0:25.4	Thanks to everybody for stopping by Locked on Lakers, Brian Komenetsky, Andy Kaminetsky,
0:29.5	plenty to get into as we put the 2025-26 season to bed.
0:35.3	And today, Andy, it seems like the story of LeBron James has kind of inserted itself in ways
0:42.1	that we didn't necessarily anticipate, at least for today, with a flurry of stories,
0:50.1	most notably from Dave McMedmanima to ESPN, just looking at the, taking a look at the relationship between LeBron and the Lakers and kind of evaluating the potential for his return.
1:01.5	Dave's story having the most, I think, interesting little nuggets about the way this played out over the course of the year.
1:10.7	Certainly the weirdest nuggets, if nothing else.
1:13.9	So strange.
1:15.5	But in some ways, Andy, like I said, in the open, like we kind of are back where we started,
1:21.0	which is people speculating about whether or not LeBron will be back.
1:27.0	It's time, as always, for a LeBronversation.
1:31.3	And it seems like the LeBron Versation.
1:34.1	It never ends.
1:35.8	It's never resolved and kind of fitting to what we're going to get into
1:40.8	for roughly the last, I'd say, five to six years between LeBron and the organization,
1:48.2	it's never felt on fully solid ground in terms of the relationship. It's had its ups and downs.
	...

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