A Hollywood Ending: Inside the Final Days of LeBron James in Los Angeles
Yaron Weitzman's book A Hollywood Ending: The Dreams and Drama of the LeBron Lakers provides an in-depth look at LeBron James's later era with the Los Angeles Lakers. The book captures key moments such as a 2022 scene where Will Smith visits the Lakers' film room and is questioned at length by LeBron, while Russell Westbrook appears frustrated in a team photo.
The narrative highlights the 'merger' between LeBron and the Lakers and explores the significant influence of Klutch Sports Group and agent Rich Paul on the franchise's decisions. It reflects on the Lakers' 2020 NBA championship win during the NBA Bubble, set against the Covid-19 pandemic and Black Lives Matter protests, with Kobe Bryant's death casting a shadow over the season.
Post-2020, the Lakers sought to bolster their roster, including the controversial 2021-22 acquisition of Westbrook and a coaching change from Frank Vogel to Darvin Ham. During a challenging 25-30 season, LeBron set the all-time scoring record on February 7, 2023, against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Following Westbrook's trade, the Lakers reached the playoffs and the Western Conference Finals, where they were swept by Denver. A blockbuster move reportedly made by General Manager Rob Pelinka involved trading Anthony Davis for Luka Dončić, a trade described as league-shattering and prompting an updated manuscript ending. Dončić is positioned as the rising successor figure for the Lakers, ushering in a new chapter for the franchise.
