NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
NBA players coming to The Drew League to showcase their pro skills are normal. From Baron Davis to James Harden, to DeMar DeRozan, The Drew League has had its share of NBA talent. But for a league embedded with the city of Los Angeles, the fans are all about those Los Angeles Lakers. Kobe Bryant put on a show while a member of the Lakers, now it was time for LeBron James.
But hold up. There is a huge difference between why Kobe did it and why LeBron did it.
Kobe was/is loved in Los Angeles. Fans watch an airball-shotting 18-year-old turn into a Hall of Famer with 5 championships under his belt all for the city of Los Angeles. So, yes, a Drew League appearance was more of a “thank you”. For LeBron, his Drew League appearance was about validation.
There will never be another Kobe in Los Angeles. Forget the championships, Kobe Bryant was/is everything the Lakers organization stands for. No athlete will ever take his spot in their hearts. But LeBron had no choice but to try his hand. It wasn’t done out of spite for Bryant, it was done to test the waters.
LeBron James has spent 4 years in a Lakers’ uniform and although he does have a championship under his belt for them, he’s also missed the playoffs twice and lost in the first round once as their leader. What The Drew League represented for him was a chance to see exactly where he stood in their hearts.
These are the moments where NBA players can gain further exposure but also a place where they can connect with fans. More than anything, these are the fans who won’t pay the obscene ticket prices to make it to The Crypto.Com Arena. The Drew League and The Rucker have been a staple in summer basketball for years. Seeing a superstar is nothing out of the norm.
Another way to look at this is the legacy of James. Yes, he’s arguably one of the best to ever play but no matter what he does, it’s the outside world that will define his legacy once he leaves the game. Los Angeles knows nothing but winning. No amount of TV ads or promos can change their view of their superstars. If they love you, they love you. If they hate you, then you must find a way for them to love you.
The shadow that Magic Johnson cast over the Lakers was thought to be never touched. However, Kobe did it. LeBron has not been there long enough to match what Magic or Kobe achieved and he understands this. Playing in front of a packed arena is one thing, but taking your greatness to the community is another.
If the Los Angeles Lakers are to turn things around this season, it all starts with LeBron James. Not only on the court but off it as well. He has to find a way to connect to them the same way Kobe did. That’s why playing in The Drew League was so important to him.
