As LeBron James’ future with the Los Angeles Lakers beyond his historic 23rd season hangs in the balance, one franchise legend, Byron Scott, is already trying to push him out the door.
However, NFL icon and longtime James fan Shannon Sharpe fails to see the logic behind Scott and other Lakers supporters looking toward LA’s post-James future.
Shannon Sharpe Blasts Byron Scott for ‘Calling Out’ LeBron James
While never a star player, Scott played a pivotal role in bringing three NBA titles to LA in the 1980s (1985, 1987, 1988) and has since remained outspoken in retirement.
Speaking on “Power 106 Los Angeles” on Thursday, Scott continued that trend, offering a blunt response when asked if he is “ready to see [James] go from the Lakers.”
“Yeah,” Scott said with a laugh. “I’m a fan, but I don’t mince words, either. I think this should be his last year here. … You don’t have to go home, but you got to get the hell up out of here.”
On Sunday’s edition of “Nightcap,” Sharpe reacted to Scott’s apparent hostility toward James, questioning whether it has to do with the 64-year-old’s preference for late Lakers legend Kobe Bryant.
The three-time Super Bowl champion added that James has dealt with similar pushback since joining the organization in 2018 despite his success over the last eight years.
“I don’t know when this started to happen that guys from an organization, great guys from an organization, would all of a sudden start calling out guys that’s within that organization,” Sharpe began.
“Maybe this is a Kobe thing. LeBron was never really accepted, even though he revitalized the Lakers organization. I don’t care what anybody says, and I think the fans understand; they know that.
“What the Lakers were [with] Kobe the last few years, and when Kobe left, they know what the Lakers were. What is this? What are we talking about?”
Sharpe later contended that James’ move from Cleveland to LA is the primary reason the franchise was able to attract big names and sell for a record-breaking price.
“If LeBron doesn’t come, the Lakers are not selling for [$10] billion,” Sharpe asserted. “You’re not gonna be able to get Luka [Dončić] because you’re not getting [Anthony Davis]. AD is not coming to LA. I don’t know what LeBron did to piss so many great players off.”
Former Laker Byron Scott says it’s time for LeBron to GTFO of LA. Unc doesn’t understand what LeBron did to piss so many people off 👀🤨 @ShannonSharpe | @Ochocinco | #Nightcap pic.twitter.com/yx1d3Hz6bG
— Nightcap (@NightcapShow_) March 2, 2026
James and Davis famously guided the Lakers to the 2020 championship in their first season as co-stars. While the former has yet to reach another NBA Finals appearance with the Purple and Gold, his team has made the playoffs in five of the last six years.
In contrast, the Lakers missed the postseason five consecutive times leading up to James’ arrival, finishing 11th or worse in the Western Conference each season.
As Sharpe noted, the 22-time All-Star’s track record serves as a testament to his immense impact in LA, even if he is not as beloved as some fellow Lakers greats.
