A Hollywood Ending - by Yaron Weitzman (Hardcover)

About the Book

"NBA journalist Yaron Weitzman lays out the high stakes drama happening inside the Lakers' organization at a crucial juncture in their history, as they try to juggle the warring priorities between Lebron James and the Buss family. When LeBron James signed with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018, the match looked like one made in heaven. Here was a living legend, the preeminent athlete of his generation, joining forces with one of the most iconic teams in all of sports. The Lakers, in the midst of their worst stretch in franchise history and reeling from the death of their legendary owner Dr. Jerry Buss, needed a savior. LeBron, fresh off ending Cleveland's 50-year title drought, needed a new challenge to help further burnish his legacy. The script wrote itself. A little over two years later, LeBron and Dr. Buss' daughter, Jeanie, were standing shoulder to shoulder, hoisting the NBA finals trophy into the air. Having won their record-tying 17th NBA title, the Lakers had reclaimed their accustomed perch on top of the basketball world and seemed destined to dominate the NBA for years to come. Traditionally, the Lakers' didn't celebrate championships, they celebrated dynasties. But this was a different Lakers' organization, one beset by infighting. A single title wouldn't be enough to cement Lebron James status as a Lakers' legend or help him surpass the ghost of Michael Jordan. Both parties needed sustained success, but for that to happen they needed to be on the same page. Sadly, the 2020 title would represent the pinnacle of their pairing, and the beginning of a precipitous decline. Drawing from over 250 interviews, Yaron Weitzman takes readers on a riveting, behind the scenes journey of this fraught partnership. From the Succession-like power struggle between the Buss children, to the rise of LeBron's landscape-altering talent agency and its attempts to assert its own power within the Lakers' walls, to the evolution of LeBron's priorities and political voice, "A Hollywood Ending" is the definitive story of an American icon's final years on stage, one portraying him, a fabled NBA franchise, and the world of modern professional sports in a light never seen before"-- Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

NBA journalist Yaron Weitzman lays out the high stakes drama happening inside the Lakers' organization as they try to juggle the warring priorities between LeBron James and the Buss family.

When LeBron James signed with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018, it looked like a match made in heaven. Here was the preeminent athlete of his generation, fresh off ending Cleveland's 50-year title drought and in need of a new challenge to help further burnish his legacy, joining forces with one of the most iconic teams in all of sports. And here were the Lakers, in the midst of their worst stretch in franchise history and reeling from the death of the legendary owner Dr. Jerry Buss, in need of a savior. The script wrote itself.

A little over two years later, LeBron and Dr. Buss' daughter, Jeanie, were standing shoulder to shoulder, hoisting the NBA finals trophy into the air. Having won their record-tying 17th NBA title, the Lakers had reclaimed their accustomed perch on top of the basketball world. It looked to be the birth of a new dynasty.

But this was a new Lakers' franchise, one beset by infighting and years removed from Kobe's prime. And this was LeBron James, the catalyst of the "player empowerment" era, an athlete chasing things greater than Michael Jordan's ghost. The two parties were too big to peacefully coexist under one roof. The 2020 title would represent the pinnacle of their pairing, and the beginning of a precipitous decline.

Drawing from over 250 interviews, Yaron Weitzman takes readers on a riveting, behind the scenes journey of this fraught partnership. From the Succession-like power struggle between the Buss children, to the rise of LeBron's landscape-altering talent agency and its attempts to assert its own power within the Lakers' walls, to the evolution of LeBron's priorities and political voice, "A Hollywood Ending" is the definitive story of an American icon's final years on stage, one portraying him, a fabled NBA franchise, and the world of modern professional sports in a light never seen before.

Review Quotes

"Weitzman cinematically portrays the high-stakes drama behind the pairing of a living legend and an iconic sports team. This is a must-read for pro hoops fans."
--Publishers Weekly, (starred review)

"Weitzman skillfully shows how [James'] hardwood acumen is complemented by a systematic approach to wielding his influence ... perceptive reporting on a transcendent athlete's methodical power moves." ―Kirkus Reviews

"In this age of ass-kissing hagiography, along comes Yaron Weitzman with "A Hollywood Ending," a raw, unflinching look at the LeBron Lakers that will render basketball fans riveted and team executives seething. This is how it should be done." --Jeff Pearlman, New York Times bestselling author of Showtime and Three-Ring Circus

"In this exhaustively reported and an authoritatively told account, Weitzman has found never-before-told stories about some of the biggest stars and most important figures in basketball history. Fans who think they know the recent history of LeBron's Lakers will be shocked by how much more was constantly bubbling beneath the surface. This book is the perfect capstone to the Buss family's five-decade ownership of the Lakers and a must-read for Lakers fans and anyone who basks in off-court drama." --Bill Oram, sports columnist at The Oregonian and former Lakers beat writer for The Orange County Register and The Athletic

"A Hollywood Ending is a deeply incisive read on the league's most prominent player" --Chris Herring, New York Times bestselling author of Blood in the Garden

About the Author

YARON WEITZMAN is an award-winning NBA writer and the author of TANKING TO THE TOP. He's covered the NBA for FOX Sports and Bleacher Report, and his writing has appeared in The Ringer, GQ, ESPN, The New Yorker, and more. His work has work has been recognized in The Best American Sports Writing and by the Professional Basketball Writers Association.