LeBron James says wearing a Lakers uniform feels ‘different’

LeBron James made his debut for the Los Angeles Lakers at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego on Sunday, and while the Lakers didn’t come out with a win, James enjoyed his brief time on the floor, wearing the purple and gold for the first time.

“It was great to get back on the floor and then just start a new journey for myself and hear the Lakers fans we have in San Diego,” James said. “It was a great feeling to go out there and hear the roar from the fans here, so it was very much appreciated.”

The Lakers are just the third organization James has suited up for in his illustrious 15-year career, and he said that putting on the purple and gold armor was no more or less exciting that every other time he has changed jerseys.

“It always feels different for me any time I change uniforms,” James said. “It felt different when I changed from wearing a St Vincent-St Mary jersey to a Cavs jersey, from a Cavs jersey to a Heat jersey, back to a Cavs jersey and now being a Laker, so it definitely feels a different. It will take a little bit of time to get used to.”

Head coach Luke Walton was less coy about his reaction to seeing James on the hardwood in full Lakers gear for the first time on Sunday.

“It was awesome,” Walton said. “When you’re coaching the Lakers and you look out and see LeBron wearing your team’s colors, it’s a pretty great feeling.”

James is expected to make his debut in front of the home fans at STAPLES Center in the Lakers’ preseason game Tuesday against the Denver Nuggets. He might not do much more than start the game and play around 20 minutes like he did on Sunday, but that will be 20 minutes closer to his Lakers gear feeling like the new normal.

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