LeBron James ' 2018 decision to join the Los Angeles Lakers marked a significant shift for a franchise that had struggled through five consecutive seasons of playoff futility. A large portion of the Purple and Gold fanbase saw hope, but apparently, Terrence Crawford was not among those.
The now-retired boxing champion appeared in an episode of "Club Shay Shay". It spilled his true feelings when The King decided to take his talents to Tinseltown.
"I'm a Laker fan. I ain't even want LeBron on the Lakers," Crawford told a shocked Shannon Sharpe. "Why would I want LeBron on the Lakers when we was competing against him?"
Crawford was born in Omaha, Nebraska, but due to the Lakers' reach, it's not impossible for someone 1,500 miles away to root for the storied franchise. Bud was old enough to watch and remember the Shaquille O'Neal-Kobe Bryant three-peat era, as well as the back-to-back title teams from 2009 and 2010.
That said, Crawford's statement did not mean he hated LBJ; instead, his words reflected his competitive spirit as a prizefighter more than anything.
"What I'm saying is, when LeBron played for Cleveland and all them, we were competing against them. That's what I'm saying. So, I kinda didn't want LeBron on the Lakers," explained the man who conquered five weight divisions in boxing.
At its core, Bud's comments came from a competitor's mindset rather than sheer dislike. As someone who made his name by beating all comers, he naturally would not want help from a guy whom he saw as an "enemy." For years, James has been a thorn in the Lakers' side, so it was not easy for a fan like Crawford to flip that switch easily.
Or, Crawford could just be expressing his loyalty to the Black Mamba's era. For many Lakers supporters watching Kobe do his thing, LeBron's arrival meant a shift in the team's identity. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but for some, including Crawford, the nostalgia for Bryant's style of play could not be erased.
Crawford was not alone in his sentiment about James. When Bron made Southern California his home seven years ago, legions of Lakers fans were not convinced he was 100 percent committed to continuing the basketball legacy of the Purple and Gold legends before him.
"Everywhere you turn, you're seeing this stuff. These directors and producers sitting courtside, looking at me, 'Stephen A., is this man LeBron here to play basketball or is he here to go Hollywood? Does he even care if he doesn't win another championship or is he really about being in the movies or all of that stuff? What's going on with this guy?" ESPN's Stephen A. Smith said in a March 2019 episode of "First Take."
At the time, the Lakers were out of the playoff picture after a promising start. James suffered an injury in a Christmas Day game against the Golden State Warriors and missed a month's worth of games. Even when he returned, the team was in total disarray, losing nine out of 10 games at one point.
Ultimately, L.A. missed the postseason, marking the first time in LBJ's career that he missed the playoffs since his rookie year.
Of course, Sharpe brought to Crawford's attention that the Lakers won their 17th title at the Orlando bubble, courtesy of Bron and Co. Bud appreciated that successful run. Still, after that, James' tenure with the team was underwhelming, to put it mildly.
These include three first-round exits, failing to qualify in the playoffs once, and a Western Conference finals appearance that ended in a sweep. Crawford's instincts could be right all along. LBJ's arrival changed the Lakers, but not always for the better in the eyes of longtime fans.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Jan 4, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
