Keyshawn Johnson admits he initially did not want LeBron James to join the Los Angeles Lakers. The former NFL wide receiver was concerned that James could eventually overshadow the legacy Kobe Bryant had built in Los Angeles.
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Johnson made the admission while discussing James’ Lakers tenure on All The Smoke. Looking back at his initial reaction to the 2018 move, he explained that his concern was less about James himself and more about protecting what Bryant represented to the franchise. Johnson explained how his original stance was tied to Bryant’s Lakers legacy.
“I never really wanted him here to begin with. And that was because I was protecting 8 and 24. It was more of a protection of what I was afraid that he might do to eclipse 8 and 24,” Johnson said.
The “8 and 24” reference was to the two jersey numbers Bryant wore during his 20-year Lakers career. Bryant won five championships with Los Angeles and became one of the defining figures in franchise history. Johnson’s concern was that another superstar could eventually overshadow what Bryant had built with the team.
Keyshawn Johnson Changed His Mind After LeBron Joined the Lakers
Johnson’s initial position was based on what he feared could happen rather than anything James had already done in Los Angeles. He acknowledged that the scenario he was worried about never materialized.
“It didn’t happen. But if it would have, then what? So I was always like, man, I don’t need him,” Johnson said.
That perspective helps explain why Johnson initially viewed the Lakers’ pursuit of James differently from those who were simply excited about adding another superstar. For him, the move also raised a question about how James would fit into a franchise where Bryant had already established such a significant legacy.
James eventually gave Johnson a reason to embrace the move. In his second season with the Lakers, James helped the franchise win the 2020 NBA championship alongside Anthony Davis. He averaged 29.8 points, 11.8 rebounds and 8.5 assists during the Finals and won his fourth Finals MVP award.
The championship became the defining achievement of James’ Lakers tenure. It gave him his fourth NBA title and helped the Lakers secure their 17th championship in franchise history.
Johnson also made it clear that his view changed once James actually arrived in Los Angeles.
“But then when he got here, I’m like, okay, I’m rolling with him. Yeah. You know, and I was rolling with him all the way since high school,” Johnson said.
That change is important because Johnson’s comments do not suggest that he personally disliked James. His hesitation was tied to Bryant’s legacy and his fear that another superstar could change how the Lakers’ history was viewed.
James eventually established his own place in that history. He became the NBA’s all-time leading scorer in 2023 while playing for Los Angeles, passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar during a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
He also led the Lakers to the Western Conference Finals that year, where Denver swept Los Angeles.
Johnson’s comments also touched on Davis, who partnered with James during their championship run in Los Angeles. While discussing Davis’ situation and a possible fit in Philadelphia, Johnson focused on the importance of the big man’s health.
“But AD gotta stay healthy. Yeah. You know, you can’t be like, just every time somebody look at you, you hurt,” Johnson said. “He just, he has some injuries. But I think, I like the makeup for him in Philly with what they have because he doesn’t have to be everything.”
Davis is currently with the Washington Wizards after being acquired by the team in a three-team trade in February 2026. He remains under contract with Washington for the 2026-27 season, although he said at media day that he will decide after the season whether he wants to remain with the Wizards beyond this year.
That makes Johnson’s Philadelphia comment a discussion about how Davis could fit with the 76ers, rather than confirmation of a completed move. LeBron, meanwhile, did officially leave Los Angeles this offseason and signed with Philadelphia, joining Joel Embiid and the Sixers for the 2026-27 season.
But the Davis discussion remains secondary to Johnson’s main revelation about James. His initial concern was that adding LeBron could threaten Bryant’s place in Lakers history.
Instead, James added another championship and several major milestones to the franchise’s history before eventually leaving Los Angeles for Philadelphia.
Johnson’s perspective ultimately changed once James put on the purple and gold. What began as an effort to protect Bryant’s legacy became an acceptance of James as another major figure in Lakers history.