Just to tie all of this together.....
LeBron is 100% a social activist. We've seen that from his tremendous work in Akron with the "I Promise" program. An amazing program that has already helped thousands of kids who may have otherwise not had an opportunity to advance their education.
We've seen it when the most popular athlete in the US calls the President "a bum". I don't care if you agree with him or not, but he's putting himself out there.
We've seen it when he's talked about 50% of his Cleveland fan-base likely being Trump supporters and not being able to really embrace that or be fully comfortable with it.
And then you look at LA and specifically Magic Johnson....
Magic Johnson's net-worth is now worth close to $600M. He built that largely on the entertainment industry (AME movie theaters) but also developed businesses that specifically targeted Urban markets when other companies could've been first movers, but didn't want to enter that demographic. Magic has donated millions to inner city charities and donated millions to HIV research and programs.
And you compare Magic's resume, next to Dan Gilbert's, and they don't really compare very favorably for what LeBron views as important. I 100% believe people are misguided when they view Gilbert as a Trump supporter because I don't think that is true. But Dan's company also had to take down a billboard in Detroit last year that was insanely tone deaf and borderline racist. Quicken Loans is known by many as a "predatory" loan business. His casinos in Cleveland aren't exactly helping the poor.....in fact they largely take the little money poor people have as they foolishly gamble away what they have.
I don't think LeBron disliked or despised Dan. I just don't think LeBron respected Dan the way most normal people come to respect billionaires for earning what they have. Gilbert's wealth never impressed LeBron. LeBron was happy he spent into the luxury tax, but that was always part of the agreement for him to come back to CLE. I think Cavs fans, myself included, wanted Gilbert to get "extra credit" for being a repeat luxury tax offender......LeBron didn't care. That was the cost of him blessing our franchise with his presence.
It's interesting.....when you look at the two owners who have had LeBron, they both committed massive errors with him.
Dan's mistake was "the letter" which he ultimately apologized to LeBron for, but never made a public apology. Savannah and Gloria, according to LeBron, were both anti-LeBron coming back to CLE because they didn't want him playing for an owner that thought he was a piece of property. I give Dan credit for apologizing to LeBron, although he probably should've given a more forceful public apology....but he at least gained enough of LeBron's trust to come back in 2014.
Micky Arison truly cemented LeBron's contempt with ownership though. After Gilbert wrote his scathing letter, LeBron sacrificed several million dollars so he, Wade, and Bosh could all fit together on the Miami Heat. Everything was going well until..........Arison didn't want to be a tax repeater and let Mike Miller go to avoid paying luxury tax dollars. LeBron felt burned, for a second time, by an owner he was making millions of dollars. And this guy can't pick up one of my best friends for a few million dollars, after I just staked my reputation on coming to Miami to play for your organization?
I don't think LeBron has any bond with Jeanie Buss. I think he understands her pockets are actually pretty thin. But he has massive trust and faith in Magic Johnson...not as a GM, but a successful man of the community. Magic isn't worth $600M based on NBA earnings. It's all outside of basketball.....after being diagnosed with HIV as well. LeBron's businesses SpringHill Entertainment and Klutch Sports are off to amazing starts, and a guy who is worth $1B already from NBA contracts and endorsements, will be worth multi-billions of dollars as his off-court companies take off and thrive. And that just means more community impact and involvement.
I guess.....my opinion, based on what I've gathered from media reports, but also stuff I've heard outside about him....LA is truly not about the rings. He wants to be competitive, he doesn't want to make a mockery of himself or the Lakers. But LeBron truly believes he can be a "change agent" in the world. He's already got his "I Promise" program fully functioning and in great hands. Now how does he make the greatest impact on the world? And it likely doesn't happen from Northeast Ohio. It starts with him becoming a multi-billionaire and putting his money to use across the country as he sees fit. Some even think he may get into politics after basketball. And not only would he have the name-brand recognition from basketball, but he will have an amazing business background to back-up his athletic glory.