The Lakers explain LeBron James' departure: “It was amicable, professional, and elegant.”

Los Angeles Lakers have officially closed the era of LeBron James. Two months after the four-time NBA champion decided to leave the franchise to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers, Rob Pelinka spoke publicly for the first time about the departure of the superstar.

The president of basketball operations and general manager of the Lakers wanted to begin his appearance alongside JJ Redick by reminiscing about James' time in Los Angeles and expressing the franchise's gratitude for all that was accomplished during his eight seasons.

"I think it was appropriate to start by expressing our gratitude for LeBron's era here," Pelinka explained. "As an organization, we remain grateful for the time we had with him."

The executive acknowledged that the Lakers have now entered a completely different phase, with a renewed roster and Luka Doncic as the new focal point of the project. However, he wanted to distinctly separate the two chapters and honor James' legacy within the franchise.

"The Lakers have become, as it should be, a team that is regularly in the playoffs. We won a championship, reached the Conference Finals. It was a great era, and we are grateful for it," Pelinka stated.

A departure that the Lakers consider friendly

James' decision surprised many, considering that the player himself had previously expressed his desire to stay in Los Angeles. His agent and friend, Rich Paul, informed the Lakers approximately eight hours before the official start of free agency on June 30 that the player was seeking a new team.

The decision contrasted with James' words during the 2024 All-Star Weekend, when he stated that he was a Laker and was happy with the franchise. Additionally, Pelinka had publicly defended the possibility of James continuing after the Lakers were eliminated by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round of the playoffs.

"We probably haven't seen a player who has honored the game as much as he has," Pelinka had stated in May. "He has given so much to his teammates and to this organization. What we want to do more than anything is honor him back."

Thus, the general manager was asked about the reasons that led to James ultimately being in Philadelphia.

Pelinka did not want to go into details about the conversations held during the summer but made it clear how he interprets the departure.

"The communications with him during this summer were diplomatic, professional, and honest," he stated. "I am very grateful for the relationship we had, which continued until this summer when he made the decision to play for another team."

He was even more definitive in describing how the farewell occurred: "It was friendly, professional, and with elegance. We viewed the entire process with gratitude because it has been an incredible era for us here."

James has yet to explain his decision

Since announcing his signing with Philadelphia, James has said little publicly about the reasons that led him to leave the Lakers.

The player shared several messages expressing gratitude to the franchise after confirming that the 76ers would be his fourth team and, as announced, the last before his retirement. However, he has yet to explain in depth how he arrived at that decision.

That will change soon.

A new episode of his podcast "Mind the Game" is scheduled to be released this Friday, where his new co-host, Steve Nash, will directly ask him about his arrival in Philadelphia and the reasons that led him to choose that destination.

Additionally, James will speak to the media for the first time since his decision during the 76ers' Media Day, set for Monday in Camden, New Jersey.

Redick already sees the new pieces fitting in

While James prepares for his arrival in Philadelphia, the Lakers are fully focused on their new project.

JJ Redick did not want to comment specifically on the departure of his former teammate and co-host on "Mind the Game," although he had already publicly shown his support for James following the player's announcement.

The coach did express positive opinions about the roster built by the Lakers after the star's departure.

"I think with this group it’s probably the first time in my three years here that I feel like the pieces really fit together," Redick stated.

The Lakers have thus turned the page after eight years with LeBron James. During that time, they won a championship and reached the Conference Finals, making the team a regular playoff participant.

Now, with Luka Doncic at the forefront and a completely renewed roster, the franchise is entering a different chapter. Pelinka, however, wanted to make it clear that this change in era does not erase the past: the Lakers believe that James' tenure ended amicably and that his legacy in Los Angeles remains intact.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Los Lakers explican la salida de LeBron James: “Fue amistosa, profesional y con elegancia”