Die-Hard Lakers Fan O’Shea Jackson Jr. Reacts to LeBron James Leaving L.A.

O'Shea Jackson Jr. zoomed in on the last day of June to do what a lifelong Lakers fan does on a day like this. Grieve a little, then keep it honest.

"It's unfortunate," Jackson said of LeBron James informing the Lakers he was done. "I definitely would have loved to see him retire in purple and gold." James spent eight straight years in Los Angeles, the longest single stop of his career, and for Jackson that made the ending sting more.

But the gratitude was real, and Jackson led with it. "That dude won a championship for the Lakers after we lost Kobe, like same year," he said. "That is something that you can't take away from the city." For a fan base that had gone a decade without a title, that season meant something no exit could erase.

Jackson let himself sit in the what-ifs for a moment. What if Solomon Hill does not take out a defender's knees. What if Anthony Davis does not get hurt in the Phoenix series. What if the Russell Westbrook trade does not set the franchise back four or five years. Then he waved it all off. "You can't live in what if. Just be thankful for what happened. And I'm thankful for King James."

When Rich pressed on why now, why not run back a full healthy season after the Lakers went 16 and 2 in March with Luka playing like the best version of himself, Jackson gave the only answer that mattered. "I'm only saying it's time because his ass said he's not coming back," he said, laughing. "It's not like I really think it's time."

Then came the part every Lakers fan was waiting on. When James returns in another uniform, is it cheers or boos? Jackson had already tweeted his answer. "Our relationship wouldn't be right if I didn't get to boo you one more time."

He was careful to explain there was no malice in it. There would be the tribute video, the applause, the tears, the great-to-see-you moment. And then, once the ball goes up, it is war again. "I booed Shaq and we traded him," Jackson said. "You got to hear it."

He had a request for Bronny James, who remains on the roster after his contract became guaranteed for 2.3 million. "Bronny, I hope you go right at him," Jackson said. "The pop that will fill that arena, it's all fair."

Jackson even found the humor in Bronny's situation, drawing on his own week. He had just done sideline reporting alone in Detroit for Big 3, so he understood a father leaving his son at work. The freeze frame on his zoom feed drew a laugh from Rich, and Jackson owned that too. "I'm a popular guy," he said, apologizing for the interruptions. He is. And on a heavy Lakers day, he was exactly the voice the show needed.