A Hollywood Ending: Inside the Final Days of LeBron James in Los Angeles
Weitzman’s book 'A Hollywood Ending: The Dreams and Drama of the LeBron Lakers' provides an in-depth analysis of LeBron James and the Lakers during their declining era.
The narrative highlights key moments, including a 2022 film room scene where LeBron questioned Will Smith extensively, causing visible frustration for teammate Russell Westbrook, who is portrayed as hardheaded, underperforming, and resistant to adjusting his game.
LeBron James is described as a defining athlete of his generation, with the book framing a 'merger' between James and the Lakers. It notes the influence of Klutch Sports Group, led by Rich Paul.
The 2019-20 season marked the Lakers' 17th title win in the pandemic bubble, achieved amid the backdrop of Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant’s unfortunate deaths.
Ownership changes are also covered: the Buss family sold the majority stake of the Lakers to Mark Walter, while Jeanie Buss remains the governor and retains 15% ownership.
On February 7, 2023, LeBron became the NBA’s all-time scoring leader in a game against the Thunder; despite this milestone, the Thunder won, leaving the Lakers with a 25-30 record.
The book details coaching and roster changes, including the firing of Vogel, the hiring of Darvin Ham, the trade of Westbrook, and the Lakers reaching the Western Conference Finals before being swept by Denver. The Celtics ultimately won the title that season.
A significant league-shaking trade is recounted, sending Anthony Davis to Dallas in exchange for Luka Dončić, who is viewed as a potential successor to LeBron as the Lakers’ franchise face.
