Die-Hard Lakers Fan O’Shea Jackson Jr. Talks LeBron James Leaving L.A. w/Rich

O'Shea Jackson Jr. zoomed in on the last day of June to process a Lakers earthquake. LeBron James had informed the team he was done in Los Angeles, and Rich wanted the diehard's honest reaction. Jackson, a lifelong Laker fan, gave it with equal parts gratitude and grievance.

"It's unfortunate," Jackson said. "I definitely would have loved to see him retire in purple and gold." He was quick to note that James spent eight consecutive seasons with the Lakers, the longest stint of a career that also included four years in Miami and eleven across two Cleveland stops. Jackson landed on acceptance. "As a fan, I am grateful," he said, pointing to the championship James delivered the same year the city lost Kobe Bryant. "That is something that you can't take away from the city."

He allowed himself the what-ifs, from Solomon Hill's collision that took out Anthony Davis's knees to the Westbrook trade that he said set the franchise back four or five years. But he refused to live there. "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 it felt like time, given the Lakers' 16-and-2 March before Luka Dončić's hamstring injury spiraled the season, Jackson cut through it with a laugh. "I'm only saying it's time because his ass said he's not coming back. It's not like I really think it's time."

Then came the confession Laker fans have been waiting on. Jackson fully intends to boo James on his return. "Our relationship wouldn't be right if I didn't get to boo you one more time," he said, insisting there is no malice in it. "I booed Shaq and we traded him." He even wants Bronny James to go right at his father if the two ever share the floor, imagining the pop that would fill the arena. "As soon as that first ball goes up in the air, you know what time it is."

The roster talk turned quickly, because the Lakers were not waiting on James to move on. Jackson framed the franchise's identity in blunt terms. "We're the Lakers. We got to move forward now," he said. "Do what we can to get to our real home, which is the NBA Finals. That's where we live."

He also drew a line when Rich floated a wild ending to the movie, LeBron joining Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and a healthy Jimmy Butler in Golden State. "Oh, what a weird ending to your movie, dude. Don't do that," Jackson said, predicting instead that James heads back East. Ultimately, he threw up his hands. "I really don't care where he goes, Rich. It doesn't matter anymore."

What he does care about is the Lakers reclaiming their standing. "We're the logo of the damn league and we need to start acting like it," Jackson said, putting the onus on head coach JJ Redick without his player-coach on the floor. A Duke man himself, Jackson issued a plea. "I need you to lock in."

Then he signed off to go work out his problems, and, by his own admission, to day drink. He had, after all, just lost LeBron James.