LeBron James says recruiting and his play are equally important
The key to the Los Angeles Lakers’ success falls on the shoulders of No. 23. LeBron James and the rest of the basketball world know it. And to make sure the Lakers can contend for an NBA championship in the next few years, James knows he has to be a recruiter off the court. He’s already in pursuit of helping the Lakers acquire top-notch players.
During a sit-down interview with ESPN’s Rachel Nichols that will air during halftime of the Warriors-Lakers game on ABC on Christmas Day, James said the role isn’t new to him.
“I’ve been trying to get guys to come play with me since, like, 2007. I’ve got rejected a lot. But I’ve also have not got rejected a lot,” James said. During James’ first tenure with the Cleveland Cavaliers, he tried to recruit Chris Bosh, Joe Johnson, Michael Redd and Ray Allen. Unfortunately for James, he couldn’t persuade them to join forces with him in Cleveland.
“A lot of people didn’t want to come to Cleveland, let me just throw that out there,” James told Nichols. “I tried to recruit so many guys to come to Cleveland, and we actually had — I had — a couple guys and it just didn’t work out.”
But when James took his talents to Miami in 2010 to team up with Dwyane Wade and Bosh, his success rate in recruiting players increased. James was able to lure in players like Mike Miller and Shane Battier.
“It wasn’t hard getting guys in Miami, I’ll tell you that,” he said. “So now that I think being in L.A., I don’t think it would be that hard to get guys here.”
He’s already started his recruiting efforts as a Laker, saying it would “amazing” and “incredible” if the Lakers could land New Orleans Pelicans star Anthony Davis.
The Lakers have the fourth-best record in the Western Conference at 19-14. This team has some solid young players in Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma and Lonzo Ball. And while the Lakers are playing better than anyone expected, James wants to continue winning.
“But we got to win, and at the end of the day, it’s all about winning. You know, and that’s what I’m trying to do right now, is to show prospects and free agents — and at the same time, show these guys that I got right now — that we can win now, and let’s not worry about the future.”
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