Byron Scott Gives LeBron James a “B” for Lakers Run and Says No Statue Yet
· Yahoo Sports
Byron Scott is not calling LeBron James’ Lakers tenure a failure, but he is not giving it an A either.
The former Lakers guard and coach told TMZ Sports that he would give James a “B” grade for his eight seasons in Los Angeles. Scott said James could have done more in purple and gold because he expected multiple championships after the four-time NBA MVP joined the franchise.
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James’ Lakers run is ending after one championship, one Finals MVP, several major records and a late-career shift that made him part of the franchise’s bridge into its Luka Dončić era. Scott still said one title was short of what he thought the Lakers would get from a LeBron-led team.
James, 41, has informed the Lakers that he will continue his career elsewhere for the 2026-27 season, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul told ESPN, according to Reuters.
Scott Expected More Than One Championship
Scott told TMZ Sports that James’ time with the Lakers was good, but not dominant enough to earn a top grade by the franchise’s standards.
The Lakers won the 2020 NBA championship with James and Anthony Davis leading the team in the NBA bubble. James was named Finals MVP after Los Angeles beat the Miami Heat, giving the Lakers their 17th title and their first since 2010.
TMZ reported that Scott thought the Lakers would win multiple championships with James, not just the one they secured in 2020.
Scott’s “B” grade acknowledges that James restored the Lakers to a championship level, but it also reflects how high the bar is for a franchise whose statues and retired jerseys are tied to long runs of deep playoff success.
He Said the Split Can Help Both LeBron and the Lakers
Scott also told TMZ Sports that James leaving could be a win for both sides. The Lakers’ direction had already started to change once they traded for Dončić, and Scott said Los Angeles can now build around the younger Slovenian star with the money it would have spent trying to keep James.
CBS Sports reported that the Lakers’ post-LeBron mandate is now straightforward: build around Dončić. The outlet reported that Los Angeles has cap space to reshape the roster around Dončić and Austin Reaves as the franchise moves into a new phase.
James’ next team has not been confirmed. Reuters reported that he is expected to take his time with the decision, while teams including the Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers have already been mentioned in speculation around his market.
Scott told TMZ Sports that James still looks capable of playing at a high level and said Cleveland would be a fitting place for him to end his Hall of Fame career.
Scott Still Does Not Think LeBron Has Earned a Lakers Statue
The statue question has followed James since the exit news broke, and Scott’s answer remains no.
TMZ reported that Scott does not think James should receive a statue outside Crypto.com Arena for his Lakers run. He judged James against Lakers-specific standards, where statues are usually connected to long franchise identity, multiple titles and eras defined almost entirely by the player being honored.
James’ delivered a championship, became the NBA’s all-time leading scorer while wearing a Lakers uniform and helped keep the franchise at the center of the league’s biggest conversations. He also spent only eight seasons in Los Angeles and won one title during that stretch.
PEOPLE reported that some Lakers fans responded to his departure by calling for a future jersey retirement and statue. Scott’s comments represent the stricter old-Lakers view: respect the résumé, but do not treat one championship as enough for a statue.
James Left With a Respectful Message to Lakers Fans
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After Lakers governor Jeanie Buss thanked him for his eight years with the franchise, James responded with his own message of appreciation.
“LeBron James is one of the greatest athletes in history,” Buss wrote, according to PEOPLE. “We will always be thankful for his eight years with the Lakers, including the title he led us to in 2020 under the toughest imaginable circumstances and the countless records he broke in purple and gold.”
Buss added that James “will always be a cherished part of the Lakers family.”
James replied, “No, THANK YOU! Truly a honor to wear the [purple and yellow hearts] while trying to continuing the greatness & legacies that came before me! Hope I made a few proud during my stint.”