A Hollywood Ending: The Dreams and Drama of the LeBron Lakers

NBA reporter Weitzman (Tanking to the Top) takes readers behind the scenes of the Los Angeles Lakers in this in-depth account of a crucial moment in the team’s history: its acquisition of LeBron James. In 2018, the team was reeling from the death of owner Jerry Buss and a string of disappointing seasons. Controlling owner Jeanie Buss, Jerry’s daughter, was determined to return the squad to its former glory and hoped that adding James, the four-time NBA MVP, would make that possible. She was right: the decision yielded a championship in the Covid-impacted 2019–2020 season. But obstacles—including injuries and questionable player decisions—would prevent them from sustaining that success. While the “LeBron Lakers” may not have reached their full potential, Weitzman argues that, in the end, both Buss and James were successful; she brought the franchise “back from the abyss” after years of mediocrity, while James won his fourth title and became the league’s all-time scoring leader. Drawing on hundreds of interviews, Weitzman cinematically portrays the high-stakes drama behind the pairing of a living legend and an iconic sports team. This is a must-read for pro hoops fans. (Oct.)