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LeBron James made several sacrifices during the Los Angeles Lakers\u2019 season but one particular moment reportedly left the four-time champion feeling overlooked by the organization.<\/p>\n
For the first time in his NBA career, James entered a season on an expiring contract. He also missed Opening Night and the first 14 games of the season due to injury, another first for the Lakers superstar.<\/p>\n
Frustration from James reached a boiling point after a regular season win that also marked a historic milestone in his career.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe win was the 1,229th of James\u2019 career and moved him past Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most victories by any player in NBA history (combined regular season and playoffs),\u201d McMenamin wrote<\/a> for ESPN. \u201cNot to mention, it came on a night when Luka Doncic topped 15,000 career points and Rui Hachimura reached 5,000.<\/p>\n \u201cStill, James\u2019 celebratory mood didn\u2019t last long.<\/p>\n \u201cLakers coach JJ Redick had announced all the individual accomplishments in the postgame locker room, eliciting a cascading round of applause by L.A. players and assistant coaches.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd then Rob Pelinka, the Lakers\u2019 president of basketball operations and general manager, addressed the team. He had the game ball in his hands.<\/p>\n \u201cRather than hand it to Hachimura or Doncic or James, Pelinka walked to the front of the room and presented the ball to Redick, who had just presided over his 100th coaching win.<\/p>\n \u201cJames has a \u201cgreat\u201d relationship with Redick, sources close to him say \u2014 with one telling ESPN that Redick\u2019s hiring is \u201cone thing the Lakers got right.\u201d<\/p>\n After the Lakers were eliminated from the playoffs, James remained uncertain about what comes next.<\/p>\n \u201cWith my future, I don\u2019t know. Obviously, we\u2019re still fresh from losing. I don\u2019t know what the future holds for me as it stands right now tonight,\u201d James said. \u201cI think I said it last year after we lost to Minnesota, I\u2019ve got to go back and recalibrate with my family, talk with them, spend some time with them, and when the time comes, you guys will know what I decide to do.\u201d<\/p>\n READ MORE: Luka Doncic Speaks on Injury After Lakers Swept by OKC<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n