Jerry West explains why "LeBron was not a tough hard-agent signature" for the Lakers

Jerry West shared his thoughts on the Lakers signing LeBron James with Sports Illustrated Jack McCallum . The Hall of Famer, who is now a consultant for the Clippers, explained why he believes it was not difficult for his former team to sign James.

West told McCallum :

"All due respect to The Lakers, who handled everything well," said West, "but, as these things go, LeBron was not a difficult free agent's signature LeBron wanted to come to LA and he wanted to come to the Lakers Period He has a family he thinks of He has a house here [Actually two homes.] He has a son [13-year-old “Bronny” Jr.] He wants to keep in a school in Los Angeles He will be a celebrity here, of course, but it's a place where, from time to time, he can get lost, be himself. not doing it everywhere.

…

"But all that I could get out of basketball comes from my association with this city and the Lakers. It was my launching pad. Playing with Elgin Getting to play with Wilt And playing for the fans Despite all the defeats we suffered in the final before winning one, LA fans never turned against We

"I hope LeBron has this experience here. I really do. I hope that he will find the happiness that I have found. "West is stopping and making this point clear." Just not when he plays the Clippers. "

It is true that the Lakers really did not need to convince James that they were a excellent destination. "James 'agent, Rich Paul, even told Lee Jenkins of SI that James' encounter with Magic Johnson before announcing his final decision" was not a throw. It was just a conversation: "This is who I am. Here is what we do. This is the culture we are defending. Here is what we are trying to accomplish. Here's how we look at you. And Johnson was the only one James had officially met with the Lakers before the release of the press release.

James knew what he wanted and made his decision quickly, but that does not mean waiting. was easy for the Lakers. Nobody was 100% sure of what James would choose to do. Team owner and president Jeanie Buss told Ramona Shelburne ESPN that they were prepared with "Plan B and Plan C and Plan D and E," in case it would not work.