An enterprising Los Angeles Lakers fan, taking cues from like-minded people in Philadelphia, is using billboards in Los Angeles to woo LeBron James.
James can become a free agent this summer, and his Cleveland Cavaliers are getting set to make their only Los Angeles trip of the season to face the Lakers and Clippers.
One of the four billboards, purchased by Lakers season-ticket holder and attorney Jacob Emrani, reads “Forget the process, we win banners! #LABron.”
Another one takes a jab at Cleveland and Philadelphia, claiming “you can’t compete with L.A.”
Last week a Pennsylvania-based home remodeling company paid for three billboards in Cleveland, again, hoping to recruit James.
One of the Los Angeles billboards set to go up will project James’ retired No. 23 next to the numbers of Lakers legends Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant.
The Lakers could potentially have the salary cap space to sign two max-level free agents, and speculation at All-Star weekend in Los Angeles was that James could perhaps join Paul George in the purple and gold next season. George, who is from the Los Angeles area, has talked about wanting to play near his hometown.
Despite the potential allure of Los Angeles, James’ priorities have always been cementing his legacy with championships. Though the Lakers have won five of their last six games, they’re lottery bound, and it’s fair to wonder whether James, at 33, would have time to deal with the Lakers’ steep learning curve.
