Shams: LeBron James’ ‘Perfect’ World Has Kyrie Irving at PG, Ty Lue as HC with Lakers

As the Los Angeles Lakers continue their search for a new head coach, keeping LeBron James happy is among their top priorities.

During an appearance on Up & Adams, Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium pointed out that the Lakers had chances to build a structure around James with people he’s familiar with but failed to do so, resulting in their current situation.

“There’s been things, obviously, that LeBron James has wanted. In a perfect, ideal world, Ty Lue would be his head coach, Kyrie Irving would be his point guard, and that would be the end of everything. There would be no coaching search,” Charania said around the 54:25 mark.

James was coached by Lue and teamed with Irving when he led the Cleveland Cavaliers to the 2016 NBA championship. Irving departed the team a year later out of a desire to get out of James’ shadow, but the two of them have expressed an openness to a reunion in recent years.

Charania pointed out that the Lakers negotiated with Lue in 2019 but ultimately decided not to hire him as their head coach. He served as an assistant for the Los Angeles Clippers that year before taking over as the team’s head coach in 2020. Charnia also noted that the Lakers made “two attempts” at adding Irving in recent years, but the veteran point guard opted to remain with the Dallas Mavericks last offseason.

James likely would have a significant influence on the Lakers’ head coaching search if he chose to provide his input, but it sounds like he has decided to leave it in the hands of the front office.

“The last thing you want if you’re LeBron James… is the hire, whether it works well or doesn’t work well, to be falling on you,” Charania said.

James is nearing the end of his legendary career, so it will be important for Los Angeles to keep him happy by hiring a head coach who can help him contend for another championship.