EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Los Angeles Lakers president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka said LeBron James' decision to leave the franchise this summer was "done amicably" and that the Lakers remain thankful for their time with the all-time great.
"I thought it would be appropriate at the front to express gratitude for the LeBron era here," Pelinka said Thursday before a season-opening news conference alongside Lakers coach JJ Redick.
"Clearly, new team and new players, and that's what we're going to talk about today. But we as an organization are still grateful for the run that we had with him here."
Thursday's news conference was two months to the day since James agreed to a two-year, $8 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers and an occasion for Pelinka to share his first remarks about James' departure.