- Grading the Lakers’ newest acquisitions of D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt
- Report: Russell Westbrook and Darvin Ham had ‘heated’ verbal exchange during halftime of Lakers-Thunder game
- Draymond Green calls Joe Tsai ‘petty’ for not trading Kyrie Irving to Lakers
- LeBron James says he can still win ‘any franchise’ multiple championships
- NBA players erupt as LeBron James breaks all-time scoring record
- Enes Freedom takes brutal shot at LeBron James after Lakers star breaks all-time scoring record
- Report: Jazz have had talks about sending package of rotation players to Lakers for Russell Westbrook and 2 1st-round picks
- Stephen A. Smith says Russell Westbrook has been asset off bench and should stay in L.A. for rest of season
- Report: LeBron James recently worked on skyhook shot with his trainers
- Cam Thomas jokes around after joining LeBron James in the history books: ‘I’m a Kobe guy’
Report: Lakers Hold Resentment at ‘Highest Levels’ Towards Kawhi Leonard
- Updated: December 23, 2019
When Kawhi Leonard chose the Los Angeles Clippers over the Los Angeles Lakers this past offseason, it appears he made quite a lot of enemies within the Lakers organization.
According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, members of the Lakers organization continue to hold resentment towards the defending Finals MVP to this day.
“Nearly five months later, with the Clippers and Lakers set to face off in the NBA’s centerpiece Christmas Day game on Wednesday, resentment remains at the highest levels of Laker Land over how Leonard and his camp handled the process,” he wrote. “And as if the growing rivalry between these intra-city teams wasn’t enough to make for a fascinating LA story, now there’s this previously unreported reality: According to three sources with knowledge of the situation, the NBA conducted a formal investigation of the Clippers last summer after complaints surfaced that Dennis Robertson had asked for improper benefits during the free agency process.”
One aspect of the Lakers’ opinion of Leonard surely has to do with the widely held belief that he strung the Lakers along as the Clippers orchestrated a trade for star Paul George.
Beyond that, it was also recently revealed that Robertson, Leonard’s uncle, asked for perks that are illegal under the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement.
Both factors likely led to Leonard becoming disdained within the Lakers organization.
Now, with a Christmas Day matchup between the two teams on the horizon, there is no doubt that it means quite a bit more than just another game would to the front office of the Lakers.
With both teams already proving that they are certainly title contenders, a Lakers win over the Clippers would be the best way to snap their current three-game losing streak.