LeBron James is a free agent this summer, the Los Angeles Lakers have been swept, and the question of whether he returns is more complicated than Rob Pelinka’s exit interview suggested.
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin published a deep dive on Tuesday, revealing the tensions that built behind the scenes throughout the 2025-26 season, and one specific moment stands out above everything else.
Dave McMenamin Reveals LeBron James Felt Unappreciated
Rui Hachimura had achieved 5,000 career points, and Luka Dončić had hit 15,000 points. James also broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record of most wins in NBA history, combining regular-season and playoff games. But that was when Rob Pelinka’s gesture apparently didn’t sit too well with James.
“So in the postgame locker room, JJ Redick, doing a good job and kind of recognizing this group accomplishment, is listing off all the things that were done by his team that day. And as JJ is addressing the room, Rob Pelinka takes his turn to address the room, is holding the game ball and presents it to JJ Redick,” McMenamin revealed.
“It was taken by LeBron to be another example of the Lakers not appreciating him.” @mcten joins @RichEisenShow to discuss LeBron James’ complex relationship with the Lakers pic.twitter.com/7daQcwjrAi
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) May 13, 2026
Shortly thereafter, LeBron James, who of course he arrives to the arena wearing like an outfit and then showers and changes and stuff and leaves in that outfit. Well, this night was still in the practice shorts, ice bags on his knees, slide sandals on his feet,” McMenamin added.
“It was taken by LeBron to be another example of the Lakers not appreciating him and everything that he does,” McMenamin added.
Here is the moment where Pelinka handed the ball to Redick, after the Lakers’ head coach addressed and appreciated his team players.
Apparently this was the moment LeBron felt unappreciated by the Lakers 😳
Pelinka gave the game ball to Redick for his 100th coaching win instead of LeBron for breaking Kareem’s all-time wins record 😭 pic.twitter.com/JyEsdyUlum
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) May 13, 2026
Redick earned his 100th coaching win. Pelinka walked into the locker room holding the game ball and, rather than present it to James, Dončić, or Hachimura, handed it directly to Redick. James saw the move for what it was, or at least what it felt like. He left the building without changing. Still in practice gear. Ice bags on both knees.
The good news for Lakers fans, according to McMenamin’s ESPN piece, is that James has a genuinely strong relationship with JJ Redick. Redick was not the target of James’ frustration that night and is not part of the tension. James also reportedly feels like Redick’s hiring is the one thing that the Lakers got right.
The GM said at his exit interview that the Lakers would love to have James back, calling him someone who has honored the game. But sources indicate the Lakers are also internally building around Dončić and Reaves as the long-term core.
But James’ return would likely involve a significant pay cut from the $52.6 million he earned this season. That financial conversation, layered on top of the emotional ones, is why McMenamin’s reporting frames this as genuinely complicated.
