While Lakers owner Jeanie Buss has praised head coach Luke Walton’s performance, LeBron James‘ camp reportedly prefers a coaching change, ESPN scribe Jackie MacMullan said on the Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective podcast.
“It’s clear to me, and probably to you, Brian, that LeBron’s camp would prefer a coaching change—they’re not too subtle about that,” she said (via Silver Screen & Roll).
In his third season as head coach, Walton has led the Lakers to a 25-24 record, two games short of the eighth seed in the Western Conference. However, the team has been without James since Christmas Day when he suffered a groin injury. The team has gone 5-10 in LeBron’s absence.
Walton was reportedly “admonished” by team president Magic Johnson earlier in the season after a subpar start. Despite that, Walton has the support of not just Buss, but also Johnson and general manager Rob Pelinka.
“We are doing everything we can to make sure that Luke is successful in his job. That’s our job,” Buss recently said on Zach Lowe’s Lowe Post podcast. “I think he is doing a terrific job. Given the injuries that we’ve had, it’s a challenge and people forget that he has had two of our starters taken away from him and they’ve won really important games on the road, proving what is possible even without LeBron (James)… I think Luke has done an impressive job.”
In addition to James’ recent absence, the Lakers have been without Rajon Rondo for a bulk of the season. Rondo returned against the Timberwolves on Thursday and James is close to getting back on the court, which could happen on Sunday against the Suns in Los Angeles. Reports of Walton’s job security could subside if James returns and the team powers its way into the postseason.
The writing is on the wall for Walton it just a matter of when he is fired not if.
That’s true of almost any NBA coach.
If his name was Luke Smith he would be fired already people
But we all know where he’s going if he does get canned… back up to Northern California. And will probably end up getting another ring. So a win win if you as me for Walton out from under the diva and another ring. And I’m not even a warriors fan….
Go LUKA!!!
They always compliment you publicly before they stab you in the back.
LeBron is a tremendous player but people really need to stop letting him run their team. He doesn’t have a good eye for management or other players.
I mean, he was the one that asked for JR Smith.
Tristian Thompson contract.
Coach Lue.
Well it only work with the Cavs. Pat never really let him with the heat
Look at the 2012/13 heat roster and tell me half that team isn’t “LeBron guys” LOL .. they won that year but you’re wrong
Ivan shumpert
True and players running teams just doesn’t work! But because Magic and Rob didn’t pick him his days are numbered but if he wins he stays
TT, JR, Shumpert were not acquired for James. Nobody was, except Love, who Gilbert already wanted but could not get until he got James. And there goes any working capspace.
Lies are told to fit favorite narratives. Dumb unprovable lies. Better, more plausible lies are needed as I am disgusted.
Lebron is clown shoes.
Walton “prefers” that “Lebron’s camp” keep their opinions to themselves, man up and realize that when you’re a franchise player who signs a mega-million dollar to be a player that a part of the responsibility of the deal is to be a leader and help mentor players and build chemistry not continue to be a distraction and cause dissection. Walton is a solid young and should be given a chance, but this entire drama is the fault of Lakers’ management – they knew what they were getting when the signed James in the first place.
This is why people hate Lebron.
After watching the last 15 games I’m not sure he’s alone.
LeBron James’ Camp Reportedly ‘Prefers’ Coaching Change
Send the Lakers Brett Brown, that will fix the ‘King’s’ wagon!!!!
It will also fix the Sixers’ too!
Thanks Jimmy B
Phil Jackson!!!!!!
This is an opinion from a reporter. Means nothing.
He wants Tyrone Lue back
No offense, but I really have trouble believing Jackie Mac has much insider information on Bron and his camp. However these reports on Luke have been around all year. I’d like to add that while the Lakers have struggled without LeBron, there’s been a litany of games the young players couldn’t close but likely would’ve won if the best player on the team was there. Honestly other than the Raptors, every team in the league struggles mightily without their alpha. Why should the Lakers be different?
LeBron out here making a literal soap opera hahahaha. How bougt you come back and play basketball
buss and magic was dumb and shortsighted to bring mebron.
LeBron’s camp? What camp? It’s just him and his gigantic, arrogant EGO.
lebron+Ego= LeBron’s Camp
Luke isn’t the problem, injuries have been. I wonder who LeBron wants to bring in…
T Lue. Mark Jackson wants it but that will not happen.
LeBron is a weird beard.
They are definitely at a cross roads. See what happens when everyone is backed up against the wall. You see it in every sport. Burn bridges and start over. Mrs Buss needs to sit this family down and tell them were working this out together.
Coach killer James at it again. He’s gonna sign another one of his beta “Brothas,” so that he can steamroll their every decision, and play the “alpha male” (which he is definitely not) roll.
This guy is the most obvious cancer you’ll never hear anyone actually call a cancer. Maybe he should spend his time more wisely, like learn about slavery and what it was actually like so you never compare millionaire athletes to slaves ever again. Nah, he’d rather cry and whine and dictate just as he always has. If Lebron played in any other era in the history of the NBA he wouldn’t have a single title. I so badly wish he played during Jordan’s era, it would have been great fun watching Jordan toy with this emotionally fragile mentally weak bum.
I couldn’t agree more!
Man I never in my life have read so much hate from y’all trolls directed to someone genius and unique like LBJ! You are a sad ole bunch! SMH
Uncovered that rock again?
Magic was up front with his plan. Add 2 stars in the period encompassing summers of 2018 and 2019. Whether he’ll succeed in effecting this plan won’t be known until this summer, and whether it was a good plan overall, won’t be known for some time after that.
But he’s doing what he said, and so far, thing are on course. More than can be said about the prior regime. Understand that the Russell and Nance trades, and not giving the overrated Randle long term money, were necessary to his plan. Without those, the Lakers would not have had the cap spaces they had last summer, or space they will still have this summer. There were few other ways to have set that up based on what he started with.
A Boston reporter…yea I don’t buy it. Seems kind ridiculous and s way to just start drama. We all already know LeBron likes his coach he picks but we’ve been down this road. Seems like this “reporter” is just digging for a story. Must’ve been a slow sports day for them. Luke isn’t going anywhere this year. Maybe next year but not this year. I actually like him as a coach, I think he can obviously approve but he’s still a young coach and he will get better with time. I think it would be a big mistake to let him go, not a lot of coaches out there in my opinion that would do a better job. Times are changing, you see it in the NFL, time to stop recycling the same old coaches and let fresh new blood have their chances at coaching like Luke. The only other person I’d be ok with coaching the Lakers next year is Mark Jackson, the old coach of the Warriors.
Who really cares what LeBron’s “camp” wants…….play your signed contract or buy yourself out of the Lakers and attempt to find another sucker to take on your Clown Show….
Sick of LeBron and all his garbage. Dude play the game and don’t worry about being the GM.
Who really cares what Lebron’s “camp” wants. . . exactly. Well nobody but this lame crap-tossing reporter trying to build her own rep with alarming but pointless observations. Something to discuss is all she wants.
Later in her ‘interview'(?) she disconnects Lebron’s “camp” from Lebron’s actualness, but damage was happily done.
Now this espn podcast party, AND Lebron’s “camp”, needs to be interviewed by a real reporter like Rachel McNichols, assuming she’s willing to get her hands that dirty.
Trade him and a draft pick and a lock down defender. He’s a tired act and not even top 10.
To summarize one poster’s held-up comment, MacMullan is a hack and is quoting people that don’t matter.
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Leaders are people with followers, and there’s a lot of comments here.
Watch him bring in Rich Paul or Maverick Carter as next Lakers head coach LOL .. sounds about right
Man a lot of hate out here for LeBron. He probably did cause a few coaches to be fired but given the results…
I’m 26 , Lebron is the best player I’ve ever been old enough to watch and appreciate .. he just acts like a little punk brat hahaha
Why not let him be player-coach, a la Bill Russell?