Is it possible to love the Lakers but wish LeBron would perform his tired act elsewhere? It’s so tiring to see LeBron blaming someone else for the team’s failure. To be dissatisfied with every coach the Lakers have had. To run around the field and berate the referees the entire game for either calling a foul on him or not calling an alleged foul on him. And using leverage to get hand-picked teammates (Russell Westbrook), who are okay with other teams but not his.
Paying for his talents so the Lakers can continue to be successful will be a difficult process, especially if they aren’t.
Bob Goldstone
Corona del Mar
::
LeBron, please leave. Take your “it’s all about me” somewhere else. Stop holding Los Angeles hostage to your outsized ego and let us get our Lakers back.
Kip Dellinger
Santa Monica
::
I understand why Darvin Ham and the coaches were fired by the Lakers. What I don’t understand is why general manager Rob Pelinka, who kept Talen Horton-Tucker and let go of Alex Caruso, and who traded Kyle Kuzma and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope for Russell Westbrook, hasn’t done that.
Richard Raffalow
Valley Glen
::
Darvin Ham was never the problem. It was never his team; it was LeBron James’ team. The problem is the owners. Like the Angels, the Lakers are hamstrung (pun intended) by ownership that has no idea what it’s doing. Arte Moreno and Jeanie Buss need to sell their teams to owners with a proven understanding of what it takes to win championships now. In the case of the Lakers, it no longer has to do with the past genius of Jerry Buss, but with the current incompetence of his progeny.
Tom Stapleton
Glendale
::
My dad introduced me to the Lakers as a kid in 1968-69 and since then I have caught as many games as I can. Fast forward: Granted, LeBron is an incredible basketball player and is undoubtedly doing special things in the community. But over the years, watching his immature antics and displays when he disagrees with a call is disgusting and shameful and a bad act for a leader. If the Lakers give this guy the max contract extension, I don’t mind making it to all the games and if the Lakers sign his kid, I’m out until they’re gone.
Sorry Dr. Buss, Kobe, Chick and all the true Lakers greats.
Paul D. Ventura
Mission Viejo
::
It’s the little things that win championships: making free throws, limiting the opponent’s second chance points, boxing out, limiting turnovers, making wide open shots, making shots in crunch time. The Nuggets did all these things. The Lakers didn’t. Season over.
Dave Ring
Manhattan Beach
::
Okay, so I’m used to getting the results a day late, but is there a reason why The Times had three Lakers stories in Wednesday’s paper, but nothing about what happened in their Game 5 loss? Monday evening?
In a game where neither team led by more than two points in the final nine minutes, nothing about Denver’s two huge offensive rebounds in the final two minutes, nothing about Jamal Murray getting burned again?
Seriously, how many times do we have to read that LeBron hasn’t decided whether he’ll be paid $51 million next season?
Steve Horn
Glendale
Read the note
Memo to Clippers owner Steve Ballmer:
1–LeBron wants his coach to be Ty Lue.
2–LeBron loves living in LA
3–LeBron’s family wants to live in LA
4–LeBron wants to win another NBA championship, something he can’t do with the Lakers.
Solution: The Clippers should sign LeBron and Ty Lue to long-term contracts.
Also, the Clippers would have to use a second-round draft pick to select Bronny.
LeBron and Leonard and the other Clippers will win an NBA title in 2025.
Harley Frankel
Santa Monica
Extra, extra! No
Given the Dodgers’ record in overtime games in recent years, I make the following recommendation. If the score is tied after nine innings, you forfeit the game and move on. The extra rest would be more beneficial than the small chance that they would win.
Mike Schaller
Temple city
Office renovation
The two Stanley Cup championship teams are gone in the rearview mirror. Kings fans have now been through a lengthy rebuild and what we have received is a team that, if it manages to reach the playoffs, will not survive the first round. Being a great player doesn’t mean being an effective manager or talent evaluator. Luc Robitaille and Rob Blake were great players, but after plenty of time, they didn’t put together a team that was competitive. It’s time for change. Anyone know what Dean Lombardi is doing these days?
Jeff Davine
Western Hills
::
The Kings’ playoff failure was certainly the third strike for GM Rob Blake and president Luc Robataille. Their trade for Pierre-Luc DuBois was a disaster because he looked more like the Invisible Man than the dynamic rising star they hoped he would be. It’s time to change the guard and plan a new course for the future.
Mike Gamboa
Buena Park
What the halo?
Every year I write a letter to The Times when the Angels are out of the playoffs. This year it’s early. The curse of Rex Hudler lives on! The Angels haven’t won a playoff game since the Angels canned their popular announcer. Arte, you fired the wrong man. You should have canned yourself.
Scott Bryant
Pahrump, Nev.
::
Mike Trout’s season may not be over yet, but his time with the Angels should be. The Angels should trade him to the Phillies, a team that would welcome him and is close to where he grew up. They should do this for a bundle of farmer prospects.
I wish they could do the same with Anthony Rendon, but no one would want him.
Jack Wishard
Los Angeles
::
From 2021 through the end of this season, the Angels have paid Anthony Rendon and Mike Trout a combined $281 million. That has to be one of the worst returns on investment in baseball history. And Angels fans thought Josh Hamilton and Albert Pujols’ deals were bad.
Bob Kargenian
Yorba Linda
Ink stain
New Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh has made good on his promise to get a “15-0” tattoo on his arm if Michigan went all the way last season. I don’t think “three years probation for recruiting violations” would fit.
Steve Ross
Carmel
Spring has begun
Just another spring in Southern California (sigh)…
Oil companies eliminate the kings.
Nuggets eliminate the Lakers.
Angels well under .500.
Dodgers conquer NL West.
Niek Roos
Nieuwpoort Coast
::
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This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.
