LeBron James Says 'How Long Will You Be Taken for Granted' amid Lakers' Slow Start

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James may have sent a passive aggressive message to the organization following its 0-4 start to the 2022-23 NBA season.

James shared a highlight from Wednesday's 110-99 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Instagram and wrote in the caption, "How long will you be taken for granted….."

The 18-time All-Star may have meant something else entirely with his post. Perhaps it was directed at the Lakers' skeptics. This is the same player who adopted "#WashedKing" as a source of motivation.

James hasn't been above publicly sending coded critiques to his own team, though.

In one famous example, he posted, "Stop trying to find a way to FIT-OUT and just FIT-IN," on Twitter, in February 2015, which was directed at then-Cleveland Cavaliers teammate Kevin Love. During the 2022 All-Star break, some thought he was taking a subtle shot at Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka when he praised the Oklahoma City Thunder's and Cleveland Cavaliers' front offices.

Over the summer, James signed an extension with the Lakers that keeps him in L.A. for at least one more year.

Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes reported in August that James met with Pelinka and head coach Darvin Ham and "drilled home the importance of consistent competitiveness and cohesion." Pelinka, per Haynes, also "promised to provide him with every resource possible to compete for a championship each year he’s with the organization."

The Lakers have so far resisted trading their 2027 and 2029 first-round picks, and using those assets as the centerpiece of a deal is easier said than done.

Absent moving Anthony Davis, this is probably Pelinka's last best opportunity for reshuffling the squad around James and making a major upgrade. He absolutely has to get this right, which means not rushing into any decisions.

But the longer the front office waits, the more the losses could pile up and render a midseason move largely meaningless. At the current rate, trading away two first-rounders for short-term help may be a case of throwing good money after bad

The Athletic's Shams Charania reported Monday the Lakers "appear determined to give the current roster a proper sample size of 20-to-25 games and assess their needs." If James' Instagram post is any indication, then Pelinka might have to accelerate that timeline if he wants to placate his best player.