$1,600,000,000 Former NBA Star Pays Heartfelt Tribute to LeBron James Following Lakers Departure

LeBron James’ departure from the Los Angeles Lakers has sent shockwaves through the NBA. The star forward’s decision to part ways with the LA-based franchise comes after spending eight long years with the team, which included its 2020 championship win against the Miami Heat.

While fans online are still processing the NBA veteran’s emotional farewell from a team that was almost synonymous with his name, a lot of league icons have also expressed their emotions over the split.

Reacting to LeBron James’ exit from the Lakers, legendary forward Magic Johnson took to his X account on Tuesday to post a heartfelt tribute for the four-time NBA champion. Johnson, who has a net worth of $1,600,000,000, as per Forbes, began his emotional note with a trip down memory lane when LeBron first signed with the Lakers in 2018 while also highlighting how instrumental James was in helping create a new era for the Lakers.

“I want to thank LeBron James and his super agent Rich Paul for taking a meeting with me back in 2018 when I was President of the Lakers and deciding to sign with us. He created a whole new era for the Lakers, including leading us to an NBA Championship in 2020 and all the milestones he surpassed in a Lakers jersey. I’ll always love and be grateful for him and wish him all the best in the next phase of his life, on and off the court!” Johnson wrote on X.

As LeBron bids adieu to the Lakers, he’s all set to feature on the court in the 2026-27 season, donning new colors.

Why Did LeBron James Leave LA Lakers?

While the official reason behind LeBron’s departure from the Lakers remains unknown, there has been a lot of speculation online.

NBA analyst Skip Bayless opined on X that James was pushed out the door by the Lakers and former teammate Luka Dončić, who supposedly did not want him back.

Contrary to Bayless’ beliefs, Lakers senior writer Dan Woike reported that the split between LeBron and the Lakers was unrelated to Dončić, with the former forward-guard duo supposedly having no personal issues with each other.

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