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Has Shohei Ohtani Done More for LA Sports Than LeBron Ever Did?

Posted: Sun Nov 2, 2025 6:22 am
by ralphlovespizza
Now that Shohei Ohtani has officially led the Dodgers to back-to-back World Series titles, it’s fair to start asking some uncomfortable questions about LeBron’s legacy in Los Angeles — especially if he retires here with just the bubble chip.

How will LeBron’s time in LA really be remembered if that 2020 title ends up being his only one?

I live in LA and was a huge LeBron fan when he first got here — mostly because everyone else had turned us down. And yes, he delivered that 2020 ring, but let’s be honest… it never felt like a real championship. No travel, no opposing crowds, no parade — just basketball in a bubble.

Meanwhile, Shohei comes in and helps deliver two legit titles in front of sold-out crowds, under the LA lights, with the whole city behind him. It’s night and day in terms of impact.

Most Laker fans I know are just worn out from LeBron’s cryptic tweets, passive-aggressive interviews, and the constant Bronny talk. At this point, a lot of us are ready to move on.

What do you think?

Re: Has Shohei Ohtani Done More for LA Sports Than LeBron Ever Did?

Posted: Sun Nov 2, 2025 6:30 am
by Lalouie
yes

lebron didn't come to LA for basketball, he came for hollywood. except for the covid ring it's been a big fat fail. and lebron is part of a long line. west/baylor/wilt/kareem, magic, kobe, shaq done it already. lebron wants to get his name in the club with THOSE GUYS

ohtani may have helped revive baseball in general not only by being good, but by being unique

Re: Has Shohei Ohtani Done More for LA Sports Than LeBron Ever Did?

Posted: Sun Nov 2, 2025 6:30 am
by doogie_hauser
If most Lakers fans feel the same as The OP, they don't deserve Lebron.

Not a fan of the guy but come on now, under the new CBA and luxury tax and apron strings, its impossible to build a show times Lakers and 00-10s Lakers Dynasty from a cheque book anymore

Lakers fans probably are entitled to feel aggrieved a bit about Bronny taking up a roster spot, but other than that, Lebron has been awesome for The Lakers, is it really his fault Rob Pelinka is an incompetent GM ?

I would never badmouth a Celtics player and influential figure who won us a chip (granted i had turbulent feelings towards Ray Allen for a while but those gave been resolved)

Lebron deserves a bit more respect from The OP (and some, not all, Lakers fans)

Re: Has Shohei Ohtani Done More for LA Sports Than LeBron Ever Did?

Posted: Sun Nov 2, 2025 6:35 am
by Mephariel
ralphlovespizza wrote:Now that Shohei Ohtani has officially led the Dodgers to back-to-back World Series titles, it’s fair to start asking some uncomfortable questions about LeBron’s legacy in Los Angeles — especially if he retires here with just the bubble chip.

How will LeBron’s time in LA really be remembered if that 2020 title ends up being his only one?

I live in LA and was a huge LeBron fan when he first got here — mostly because everyone else had turned us down. And yes, he delivered that 2020 ring, but let’s be honest… it never felt like a real championship. No travel, no opposing crowds, no parade — just basketball in a bubble.

Meanwhile, Shohei comes in and helps deliver two legit titles in front of sold-out crowds, under the LA lights, with the whole city behind him. It’s night and day in terms of impact.

Most Laker fans I know are just worn out from LeBron’s cryptic tweets, passive-aggressive interviews, and the constant Bronny talk. At this point, a lot of us are ready to move on.

What do you think?


Does Lebron live rent free in your head? What does Ohtani have to do with Lebron's legacy? Lebron won a championship for the city. As a fellow Californian, I proud of Lebron and I proud of Ohtani for bringing glory to the city of LA. How do you go from celebrating Ohtani to making some dumb dismissal of Lebron's accomplishments?

Re: Has Shohei Ohtani Done More for LA Sports Than LeBron Ever Did?

Posted: Sun Nov 2, 2025 6:36 am
by Mephariel
doogie_hauser wrote:If most Lakers fans feel the same as The OP, they don't deserve Lebron.

Not a fan of the guy but come on now, under the new CBA and luxury tax and apron strings, its impossible to build a show times Lakers and 00-10s Lakers Dynasty from a cheque book anymore

Lakers fans probably are entitled to feel aggrieved a bit about Bronny taking up a roster spot, but other than that, Lebron has been awesome for The Lakers, is it really his fault Rob Pelinka is an incompetent GM ?

I would never badmouth a Celtics player and influential figure who won us a chip (granted i had turbulent feelings towards Ray Allen for a while but those gave been resolved)

Lebron deserves a bit more respect from The OP (and some, not all, Lakers fans)


Exactly. If Lebron went to Sacramento and bring a championship here, I wouldn't dismiss him like this. Like can you imagine the Kings winning our first championship since the move, only to have the fans dismissed it as not "legitimate" because you can't get the man out of your head?

Re: Has Shohei Ohtani Done More for LA Sports Than LeBron Ever Did?

Posted: Sun Nov 2, 2025 6:39 am
by Maxthirty
This obsession is not healthy. He isn’t even playing and you still couldn’t resist talking about him.

Re: Has Shohei Ohtani Done More for LA Sports Than LeBron Ever Did?

Posted: Sun Nov 2, 2025 6:44 am
by xb3at band1tx
For a casual transplant, maybe. For an LA native and diehard Laker fan personally no. In my eyes its closer to when KD joined GS than it is Bron coming to LA. They were going to world series and high stakes championship games without Shohei tbh.

I lived through the Nick Young years. It was dark before LeBron came to us.

Re: Has Shohei Ohtani Done More for LA Sports Than LeBron Ever Did?

Posted: Sun Nov 2, 2025 6:45 am
by CobraCommander
ralphlovespizza wrote:Now that Shohei Ohtani has officially led the Dodgers to back-to-back World Series titles, it’s fair to start asking some uncomfortable questions about LeBron’s legacy in Los Angeles — especially if he retires here with just the bubble chip.

How will LeBron’s time in LA really be remembered if that 2020 title ends up being his only one?

I live in LA and was a huge LeBron fan when he first got here — mostly because everyone else had turned us down. And yes, he delivered that 2020 ring, but let’s be honest… it never felt like a real championship. No travel, no opposing crowds, no parade — just basketball in a bubble.

Meanwhile, Shohei comes in and helps deliver two legit titles in front of sold-out crowds, under the LA lights, with the whole city behind him. It’s night and day in terms of impact.

Most Laker fans I know are just worn out from LeBron’s cryptic tweets, passive-aggressive interviews, and the constant Bronny talk. At this point, a lot of us are ready to move on.

What do you think?


lebron won a ring and was the finals MVP...the OP is on his 3rd post and thus hasnt done enough for RealGMs basketball forum to come and question LBJ...
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Re: Has Shohei Ohtani Done More for LA Sports Than LeBron Ever Did?

Posted: Sun Nov 2, 2025 6:49 am
by CobraCommander
Mephariel wrote:
ralphlovespizza wrote:Now that Shohei Ohtani has officially led the Dodgers to back-to-back World Series titles, it’s fair to start asking some uncomfortable questions about LeBron’s legacy in Los Angeles — especially if he retires here with just the bubble chip.

How will LeBron’s time in LA really be remembered if that 2020 title ends up being his only one?

I live in LA and was a huge LeBron fan when he first got here — mostly because everyone else had turned us down. And yes, he delivered that 2020 ring, but let’s be honest… it never felt like a real championship. No travel, no opposing crowds, no parade — just basketball in a bubble.

Meanwhile, Shohei comes in and helps deliver two legit titles in front of sold-out crowds, under the LA lights, with the whole city behind him. It’s night and day in terms of impact.

Most Laker fans I know are just worn out from LeBron’s cryptic tweets, passive-aggressive interviews, and the constant Bronny talk. At this point, a lot of us are ready to move on.

What do you think?


Does Lebron live rent free in your head? What does Ohtani have to do with Lebron's legacy? Lebron won a championship for the city. As a fellow Californian, I proud of Lebron and I proud of Ohtani for bringing glory to the city of LA. How do you go from celebrating Ohtani to making some dumb dismissal of Lebron's accomplishments?

its his 3rd post bro....
Image

Re: Has Shohei Ohtani Done More for LA Sports Than LeBron Ever Did?

Posted: Sun Nov 2, 2025 7:03 am
by Effigy
Two titles to 1. 2 mvps to 0. So uh yeah? Duh.

Re: Has Shohei Ohtani Done More for LA Sports Than LeBron Ever Did?

Posted: Sun Nov 2, 2025 7:04 am
by Bank Shot
Obviously and also who cares

Re: Has Shohei Ohtani Done More for LA Sports Than LeBron Ever Did?

Posted: Sun Nov 2, 2025 7:23 am
by ralphlovespizza
doogie_hauser wrote:If most Lakers fans feel the same as The OP, they don't deserve Lebron.

Not a fan of the guy but come on now, under the new CBA and luxury tax and apron strings, its impossible to build a show times Lakers and 00-10s Lakers Dynasty from a cheque book anymore

Lakers fans probably are entitled to feel aggrieved a bit about Bronny taking up a roster spot, but other than that, Lebron has been awesome for The Lakers, is it really his fault Rob Pelinka is an incompetent GM ?

I would never badmouth a Celtics player and influential figure who won us a chip (granted i had turbulent feelings towards Ray Allen for a while but those gave been resolved)

Lebron deserves a bit more respect from The OP (and some, not all, Lakers fans)



It’s not just the Bronny thing. It’s the fact that one guy deferred $680 million of his contract to put the team in position to get better players now, while the other guy picked up his $50 million dollar player option then immediately complains the team isn’t good enough.

It’s the fact that one guy put lots of effort into recruiting another player from Japan, and as a result that Japanese player is now the World Series MVP, and the other player lobbied to get Russell Westbrick on his team.

It’s the fact that one guy who won the NLCS MVP crossed out his name on it and put team instead, and the other guy is complaining about not getting enough first place votes behind Giannis.

In other words, if Lebron had multiple titles in LA like Curry has in the Bay Area, I wouldn’t mind it. But even a guy with all the success like Curry has doesn’t act like this.

It’s just an old and tired act and I’m personally thrilled the new owner looks like he’s just going to let Lebron walk.

Re: Has Shohei Ohtani Done More for LA Sports Than LeBron Ever Did?

Posted: Sun Nov 2, 2025 7:25 am
by doogie_hauser
Aside from the chip, Lebron has also made The Lakers organisation maybe billions in revenue (not just merchandise sales) and sadly probably ushered in a whole new generation of Lakers fans worldwide.

As a Boston sports fan, obviously Tom Brady had more success/glory than Paul Pierce did, but we don't ever want to diminish PP's legacy at The Celtics with Brady's undisputed GOAT status.

I am 45, being a Celtics fan since I was 12, and have only got to enjoy/celebrate Celtics championships in my lifetime

They are extremely hard to win these days, especially in a league of parity and so much talent around the NBA.

Lebron will probably retire as a Laker and made rhe Laker brand relevant again after the lean years after Kobe.

Re: Has Shohei Ohtani Done More for LA Sports Than LeBron Ever Did?

Posted: Sun Nov 2, 2025 9:03 am
by Vae Victus
The OP's starting comment is ridiculous. Dodgers were a STACKED team that got a prime Ohtani to help get them over the top. Lakers were a wasteland of desolation until Lebron got our asses into the promised land (with a good heaping of lotto luck to get a high pick to throw into the AD deal). To compare the two is asinine.

Any real Laker/Dodger fan is just totally excited that the Lakers have the same majority ownership group as the Dodgers. It means theyre gonna spend metric **** of cash on the entire infrastructure of running a high level basketball franchise and will spare not expense, unlike the Buss family who pinched pennies everywhere they could. With a salary cap, smart franchise has to maximize the hell out of every dollar on payroll with the best talent that scouts can find and developmental coaches can train up. The Lakers will need a few years to revamp operations, but im confident by year 4 they'll have a well oiled machine in place giving Luka a solid Robin and a bunch of dudes making very little but providing decent on court impact.

Re: Has Shohei Ohtani Done More for LA Sports Than LeBron Ever Did?

Posted: Sun Nov 2, 2025 9:27 am
by Hornet Mania
Ohtani's going to be in a club with very few others when it comes to what he's brought to a single franchise. Especially monetary.

Re: Has Shohei Ohtani Done More for LA Sports Than LeBron Ever Did?

Posted: Sun Nov 2, 2025 10:05 am
by Rainwater
Trash post lol

Re: Has Shohei Ohtani Done More for LA Sports Than LeBron Ever Did?

Posted: Sun Nov 2, 2025 10:22 am
by ORLMagicGirl15
You California fans really have high standards on how your team wins a championship. See most of us wouldn’t care if our team won a bubble or back-to-back championships, we’d cherish the players just the same.

Re: Has Shohei Ohtani Done More for LA Sports Than LeBron Ever Did?

Posted: Sun Nov 2, 2025 10:43 am
by Godymas
Yes, no hesitation

Matthew Stafford has done more for LA than LeBron too

in terms of sports legends from this decade LeBron is a tier 2 in LA. Didn’t even have a parade. The bubble championship is the worst championship in the history of the NBA. Worse than lockout seasons.

Re: Has Shohei Ohtani Done More for LA Sports Than LeBron Ever Did?

Posted: Sun Nov 2, 2025 11:01 am
by xinxin
That 2020 title is still special regardless of how everyone spins it.

It was COVID.. lots of uncertainty..

The Lakers winning that after years of mediocrity in the latter years of Kobe & post Kobe ; was still great for the city


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Re: Has Shohei Ohtani Done More for LA Sports Than LeBron Ever Did?

Posted: Sun Nov 2, 2025 1:26 pm
by NyKnicks1714
ralphlovespizza wrote:Now that Shohei Ohtani has officially led the Dodgers to back-to-back World Series titles, it’s fair to start asking some uncomfortable questions about LeBron’s legacy


wat