Ex-Los Angeles Lakers Executive Opens Up About Elite LeBron James’ Legacy
Ex-Los Angeles Lakers executive Alan Rothenberg recently opened up about Lakers veteran LeBron James. Here’s what Rothenberg, 87, said and why.
The Former Executive Opens Up About LeBron James
Before serving as a U.S. soccer president, Alan Rothenberg served as an NBA executive for both the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers. Rothenberg’s services included launching U.S. soccer and chairing the 1999 Women’s World Cup, respectively.
Recently, Rothenberg sat down with Canada Sports Betting for an in-depth interview about the Lakers, the MLS, the FIFA World Cup, etc. Rothenberg’s recent statements to the public spoke for themselves, whether one agrees or not.
He said of LeBron James, “He will not be the Los Angeles icon like Kobe, Magic, and Kareem are. He will be recognized more leaguewide as an NBA force. Obviously, he’s been in a few different cities and been a winner everywhere. The place he will probably still be identified most with will be Cleveland. That was his hometown, and he brought them their first-ever championship. I think if he’s going to be identified with any city, it will be Cleveland more than anywhere else.”
His statement about James, 41, can be true. There’s a chance that James’ legacy as an NBA legend would be cemented in Cleveland someday. James was born and raised in Akron, Ohio. His tenure in Los Angeles has been impactful but uncertain without another NBA championship.
Ex-Lakers Executive Comments on NBA Championship Drought
Rothenberg helped build the “Showtime Lakers,” a prominent era in Lakers history from 1979 to 1991, before becoming a driving force behind two FIFA World Cups in 1994 and 1999. Rightfully so, Rothenberg’s comments on the Lakers’ NBA championship displayed an ability to resonate with both fans and media members.
He said, “Since Jerry Buss died, the Lakers, even with LeBron, have really not lived up to the earlier years. When Jerry Buss and my mentor, Jack Kent Cooke, owned the team, they were perennially winning or in the Finals. Other than the pandemic year, that hasn’t been the case for a decade. They have new ownership, and the track record (is good) for Mark Walter with the Dodgers — it’s not just the money, but also the intelligent management.”
He added, “The Lakers obviously need a good big man and help on defense. Right now, their best players are great offensively, but questionable defenders. They need to put the pieces together. But with the proven track record of Mark Walter, I would not bet against them for the next few years.”
His comments contain great points. The Lakers haven’t really lived up to the hype since 2013. The Lakers won their last NBA championship, their 17th, in 2020 under the NBA’s COVID-19 bubble.
The Lakers have failed to run it back since then, and it all started when a short-term rebuild went wrong in the 2020-21 NBA season. Los Angeles’ inconsistencies, early playoff exits, and sustained underperformances came to light, along with reported ownership differences among the owners, executives, and employees.
Things have been looking up for the Lakers since the Luka Doncic trade in February 2025. If LeBron James retires, Doncic, 27, can become the next long-term star in Los Angeles. After all, Rothenberg believes that the team still has the allure to attract another superstar to L.A., due to the team’s brand, TV viewership numbers, attendance rates, and sponsorships.
Ex-Lakers Executive Talks Soccer
Rothenberg is widely known as an NBA executive, lawyer, and partner, but he also knows a thing or two about professional soccer.
Despite not growing up with soccer, he was a man of the hour when the 1994 World Cup came to the United States. He led an extremely successful event that helped spark an increased interest in soccer in the U.S.
He was also involved with Major League Soccer (MLS), kicking the league off. However, one question remains — and that’s if the Whitecaps FC will remain in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He doesn’t know at the moment, but mentioned Las Vegas, Nevada, as a potential city for a possible move. We’ll see what happens.
