Wednesday was the 10-year anniversary of The Decision, an event that influenced the NBA more than perhaps any other over the last decade. The latest episode of “I Love Basketball” looks back at The Decision and how the league, but also the Lakers specifically, were affected by LeBron James’ choice.
Sabreena and Anthony start by recalling the day of The Decision itself, where they were when it happened, and what their initial reactions were to the formation of a superteam in Miami. They then go into how that moment magnified the importance of the upcoming regular season, but how it also sent the league into a frenzy regarding offseason newsbreaking and the rumor mill.
The pair then discusses how James’ narrative was shaped by The Decision, specifically as it related to Kobe Bryant, and also how the Bryant/Dwyane Wade dynamic was forever changed by Wade teaming up with James. Finally, they move on to how the creation of the Big Three impacted the Lakers and other teams around the league, both in terms of ushering in the era of player empowerment — something the Lakers have benefited from more than arguably any other team — and by laying the groundwork for a new style of play within the league over the last ten years.
You can listen to all that and more on the full episode below, and to make sure you never miss a single one, subscribe to the Silver Screen and Roll podcast feed on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts.
You can also follow your hosts on Twitter at @sabreenajm and @AnthonyIrwinLA.