What LeBron to the Lakers Means for Filipinos

SOCIAL media all over the world is going ga-ga over the news that superstar LeBron James is moving to the Western Conference for the first time in his NBA career.

On an otherwise boring Sunday afternoon (US time), James shook up the sports world when he announced that he is signing a four-year contract with the Los Angeles Lakers where he will be paid $154 million, thus ending his second stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers whom he led to the NBA title in 2016.

It is no secret that LeBron has had irreconcilable differences with Cavaliers team owner Dan Gilbert over the direction of the team which prompted him to say goodbye for a second time to his hometown. Gilbert was criticized for some questionable moves such as trading Kyrie Irving to Boston and giving the Cavs a quick fix by acquiring veterans like Dwyane Wade and Derrick Rose only to let go of them during the trade deadline. And the players Cleveland got like Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. didn't create much of an impact during the playoffs. Perhaps LeBron's last straw came during the Cavaliers' four-game sweep loss against the Golden State Warriors that featured JR Smith's boner late in regulation of Game 1 which got James infuriated.

Even before the Finals, LeBron didn't shake hands with Gilbert after the Cavaliers beat the Boston Celtics in Game 7 of the last Eastern Conference Finals.

LeBron's move to the Lakers gives them a marquee star who can help restore them to NBA relevance. They haven't made the NBA playoffs since 2013 and they haven't won an NBA title since 2010. And with Kobe Bryant retired, the Lakers have been struggling even with promising young stars like Julius Randle, Lonzo Ball and Kyle Kuzma.

The Lakers aren't done yet as they are still trying to get Kawhi Leonard from the San Antonio Spurs and DeMarcus Cousins from the New Orleans Pelicans, who is coming off an injury and is an unrestricted free agent.

Credit Lakers president for basketball operations and former superstar Magic Johnson for luring James to LA but he faces a hard task in trying to model his team after the success of the Warriors. Forming a championship-caliber team doesn't happen overnight as the Warriors took five years to build its current championship team that has Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson.

LeBron's move to LA will surely make the Western Conference even tougher next season. Aside from the Warriors, the Lakers also have to overcome Houston with James Harden and Chris Paul, Oklahoma City with Russell Westbrook and Paul George, Dallas with Dirk Nowitzki, rookie Luka Doncic and newly-signed DeAndre Jordan, Utah with Donovan Mitchell and San Antonio whether Leonard plays with them or not.

James' move has been the biggest story of the NBA free agency period which saw Paul and George re-sign with their old teams while Dwight Howard, a center who has seen better days on the court, was traded again, this time to the Brooklyn Nets who intend to buy out his contract and make him a free agent.

Eastern Conference teams will surely be jockeying for a spot in the NBA finals next year with Boston the heavy favorite to make it out of the East. But expect Philadelphia, Toronto and Milwaukee to slug it out with the Celtics. As for the Cavaliers, Kevin Love and rookie draftee Colin Sexton will have to carry them in the post-LeBron era. Don't be surprised if Cleveland doesn't even make the playoffs next season.

Now, how will LeBron's move to a new team impact his popularity in the Philippines?

Well, the Lakers have had a strong Filipino following since the Kobe days and LeBron's transfer will surely add more followers who are yearning for the purple and gold to go back to the playoffs.

ABS-CBN, which covers the NBA for free TV in the Philippines, will surely get more Lakers games now that James is with his new team. Many ABS-CBN sportscasters like Boom Gonzalez and TJ Manotoc are known LeBron fans and were present during the King's four visits to the Philippines (I was lucky enough to cover two of LeBron's Manila visits, both at the Mall of Asia Arena). Manotoc is also the ABS-CBN News bureau chief in North America so he will surely see LeBron in the flesh more often.

More big player movements should be expected even as the NBA Summer League reels off this week. And LeBron will surely not be the last to hug the NBA off-season headlines.