The news of LeBron James signing with the Los Angeles Lakers Sunday afternoon sent the always active Twittersphere into a frenzy. NBA legends, current players, and celebrities reacted to the signing, which is sure to be the splashiest of the offseason.
James, a four-time MVP and 14-time All-Star, supplanted Kobe Bryant several years ago as the face of the NBA. Bryant congratulated his former USA Basketball teammate:
Welcome to the family @KingJames #lakers4life #striveforgreatness @JeanieBuss @MagicJohnson and RP well done!!! ??
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) July 2, 2018
The NBA’s all-time leading scorer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar gave his analysis:
I am sure the Lakernation is rejoicing The acquisition of LeBron James means that the Lakers are just a smidgen away from being real contenders. Congrats to @MagicJohnson & @LALakersLive et al. Cross your fingers for news from San Antonio.
— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (@kaj33) July 2, 2018
Onto the current Lakers players, which seem thrilled unsurprisingly:
LAKESHOWWWW. @KingJames let’s go my brotha?? let’s rock
— kuz (@kylekuzma) July 2, 2018
— kuz (@kylekuzma) July 2, 2018
Y’all really thought he was gonna pass up the greatest city in the world… #TheKingIsHere ?
— Lonzo Ball (@ZO2_) July 2, 2018
And the opponents — like Knicks’ forward Enes Kanter, who had publicly recruited James— who are not so thrilled:
Wow!! Well… NVM ?
— Enes Kanter (@Enes_Kanter) July 2, 2018
It’s gone take a while for all the Kobe/Laker fans to have to start cheering for Lebron @THATBOIJB said he ain’t doing it he a Warrior fan now
— Jordan Bell (@1jordanbell) July 2, 2018
Blazers guard CJ McCollum foresaw a future LeBron-LeBron Jr. partnership:
Bron gonna be a free agent just in time to play with his son . That’s a bar
— CJ McCollum (@CJMcCollum) July 2, 2018
And celebrities welcoming James to Los Angeles:
Welcome, @KingJames. pic.twitter.com/Gy7JywiUwu
— Arnold (@Schwarzenegger) July 2, 2018
Welcome to LA, Mr. James. @KingJames @Lakers
— Larry King (@kingsthings) July 2, 2018
Now LA has a God and a King!
Zlatan welcomes @KingJames pic.twitter.com/4gYooOpURD— Zlatan Ibrahimović (@Ibra_official) July 2, 2018