Derek Fisher said LeBron James has changed the Lakers' value over the past eight years.

LeBron James, the 41-year-old NBA star, announced his departure from the Los Angeles Lakers, where he had played for many years. Legendary player Derek Fisher said that although LeBron James's abilities have been criticized, he still believes that the legendary star has changed the value of the Los Angeles Lakers over the past eight years.

During his eight years with the Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James played 479 games, averaging 25.9 points per game with a field goal percentage of 9.8% and a three-point percentage of 35.6%. He also helped the Los Angeles Lakers win the NBA championship in the 2019/20 season.

Unfortunately, the Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2025/26 NBA Western Conference Semifinals with a score of 0-4.

With LeBron James' departure, 27-year-old point guard Luka Doncic will shoulder greater responsibilities with the Los Angeles Lakers. As for acquiring players and selecting those who can complement Doncic, this will be a task that the team must carefully consider.

When discussing player acquisitions, NBA legend Derek Fisher stated, "Do you think Luka Doncic wasn't involved in the team's decisions? I'm talking about now. For example, Luka Doncic expressed his desire for the team to acquire a top-tier center, and what happened?"

"Luka Doncic has only been with the Los Angeles Lakers for 16 months. Now he says, 'This is what I want.' Will the team immediately go and meet his demands? What's the difference between this and before? Can anyone tell me the difference?"

Derek Fisher continued, "I'm not a media person, nor do I work for LeBron James. They don't pay me a penny. I just hope that people will base their discussions on facts, not emotions."

"The greatest player of the last 20 years joined this team and greatly increased its commercial value, ultimately leading to its sale for $10 billion. None of this would have happened without his influence over the past eight years. So why can't he be involved in some decisions? But now, people are using that as a problem."

Furthermore, Derek Fisher pointed out, "Before LeBron James joined, the Los Angeles Lakers had become almost insignificant. But after LeBron James arrived in 2018, he undoubtedly made the team one of the most watched teams in the league again."

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