Category: Latest LeBron News

Arenas: LeBron James’s big three originally wanted to play for the Knicks

How would things have turned out differently in NBA history had LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh gone to the Knicks in 2010?

When LeBron James joined the Miami Heat in 2010 and took Chris Bosh with him, it shattered the NBA’s landscape in more ways than one.

The Miami trio of James, Bosh and Dwyane Wade were immediately hailed by some as the greatest collection of superstar talent in NBA history. Amidst an unprecedented amount of hype and anticipation, the Heat fell hard in the 2011 NBA Finals, only to claim the next two world championships.

The three luminaries were reportedly planning to team up for a few years in advance. However, according to Gilbert Arenas, they were originally looking to join forces on the New York Knicks.

Unfortunately for them, Knicks owner James Dolan made a fatal mistake that torpedoed the team’s chances of landing the three superstars (h/t Heat Nation).

“When Dwyane Wade, Bosh and LeBron decided to team up, they was not playing in someone city so they can all be fresh,” Arenas said of the trio’s intentions to join forces in New York. “So they were planning on going to New York together. And what happened is because they didn’t tell anyone, Dolan made a mistake by paying Amar’e Stoudemire.

“They didn’t want to play with Amar’e Stoudemire because they had they own goddamn Big 3. So, because New York [expletive] it up, they called Micky [Arison] and say, ‘Hey, Micky. This is what we wanna do. Can you make it happen?’ And then made it work — if you knew what was going on then, you would have known New York dropped the ball because of — they offer Mike Miller all that money because they knew Mike Miller was part of the group. Miami stole him. [Udonis] Haslem rejected his deal once he got wind — took the pay cut, signed last to come back. They were all moving together.”

At the time, the Knicks had been laughingstocks for several years. Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing had left in 2000, and since then, they had made the playoffs twice while failing to get past the first round.

Landing James, Bosh and Wade would’ve instantly restored the Knicks’ credibility and dignity. Instead, they would have to struggle for another decade while fans kept calling for Dolan to sell the team.

Luckily, now New York has a very good team with a real soul and identity that seems to have the beginnings of a potential championship contender. But it could’ve recast the basketball world’s spotlight on itself a while back while allowing James to possibly become the toast of the Big Apple.

LeBron James on why the Celtics’ offense is so deadly

LeBron James can’t help but be impressed with the Celtics’ highly efficient, unselfish offense.

Even though the Boston Celtics got routed in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, 122-84, on Friday, they’re still one win away from winning their 18th world championship. Doing so would break the tie they have with the Los Angeles Lakers right now in total titles.

It is one thing that has made this offseason, at least so far, that much more frustrating for Lakers fans after their team fell well short of expectations and its potential this year.

Purple and Gold partisans may not want to admit it, but this year’s edition of the Celtics has apparently been one of the better teams the NBA has seen in recent years, at least statistically. During the regular season, Boston ranked second in points per game, 3-point shooting percentage and defensive rating while finishing first in offensive rating and blocked shots per game.

LeBron James has been a rival of the Celtics for much of his career, but it didn’t stop him from heaping praise on them and explaining why their offense is so deadly. He did just that on a recent episode of his “Mind the Game” podcast (h/t Lakers Nation).

“I think they do it with the pass that a lot of people don’t really give them credit for. I think they’re dribble penetration and once they see the defense start to rotate, they do it with the pass.

“To be honest, over the course of a 48-minute game they really only have two iso guys and that’s Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Obviously, Payton Pritchard has the ability to play a little iso ball as well but they just have two iso guys. The rest of those guys they move off the pass. They move off the defense shifting. They’ve loaded up on those two great wings in Jayson and Jaylen and then now that’s when their personnel really kicks in. That’s when Derrick White is playing on a closeout, that’s when Jrue Holiday is playing on a closeout, that’s when Payton Pritchard is playing on a closeout. Al Horford is playing on a closeout.

“And I think they don’t get enough credit for their ball movement when they’re driving the baseline or driving the 45, the slow and getting the defense rotating. That’s their superpower. Once that ball gets to popping and they got five guys around that perimeter that can all shoot the three…they all shooting high 30s, some of them in the 40s, but I don’t think they get enough credit for how they play with the pass and the body movement that they have.”

As James alluded to, the Celtics have found success by playing five-out on offense, and they’re able to do so because their top six players are all legitimate 3-point threats. Five-out offenses have proliferated across the NBA in recent years, and the Celtics are the latest team to utilize that scheme at a high level.

It is also a reminder to the Lakers that they need to not just be an efficient 3-point shooting team, but they need to have more legitimate 3-point threats and increase their volume of 3-point attempts and makes.

While Boston has gone cold from downtown at times during this championship series, its mere volume of attempts has made it difficult for the Mavs to match them in points off 3-pointers. It’s the exact same problem the Lakers had at various points this season.

Kevin Garnett names the only player he feels will catch LeBron James’ scoring record

Has Kevin Garnett tabbed the right active superstar as the one who can surpass LeBron James as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer?

Where LeBron James ranks on the list of the greatest players in NBA history is a hot and polarizing debate. A growing number of people feel he deserves to be ranked No. 1 or No. 2, but of course, there are also many who think he ranks significantly lower than that.

The two biggest feathers in James’ cap when it comes to his legacy are his longevity, which is reaching a historic level, and the fact that he’s the all-time leading scorer in NBA history. In fact, no other basketball player in world history has scored as many points as he has.

It has led some to ask who among current players could perhaps surpass the Los Angeles Lakers superstar’s career scoring mark someday. Retired Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett feels there is only one active player who can do it — Luka Doncic (h/t The Cold Wire).

In just six seasons and at the age of 25, Doncic has already assembled an impressive young resume. He has quickly scored 11,470 regular season points, and his 28.7 points per game career regular-season average is third all-time, behind only Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain.

This year, he led the NBA with a mark of 33.9 points a game, to go along with 9.8 assists and 9.2 rebounds per contest, as he has led his Dallas Mavericks to the championship series despite an underwhelming roster.

Many have criticized the Slovenia import for not being in tip-top shape. But if he gets on the treadmill or starts doing swim training to boost his stamina and endurance, and if he is lucky enough to avoid major injury, perhaps he will have a chance at surpassing James.

Of course, Doncic will have to want to play long enough in the league, and exactly how long he will have the desire to stick around is another question.

LeBron James recently praised Dan Hurley and his offense

Amidst the news the Lakers are trying to hire Dan Hurley as their next head coach, it at least seems LeBron James likes Hurley’s offense.

After weeks of seemingly being headed toward hiring JJ Redick to be their next head coach, the Los Angeles Lakers are now making a serious push to bring in University of Connecticut head coach Dan Hurley to fill that position.

On the surface, it would seem to be the type of hire that everyone in the Lakers organization would be on board with. However, the most important man in the organization who has to approve of Hurley is, of course, LeBron James.

Redick has a relationship with the superstar stemming from their partnership on the “Mind the Game” podcast, and some feel Redick is therefore James’ preferred candidate.

It is unclear exactly how much pull James and Klutch Sports have with the Lakers right now. Plenty feel the team’s interest in Redick has James’ fingerprints all over it, but Rich Paul and a couple of reporters have denied that James has had anything to do with its coaching search.

Recently Hurley went on Redick’s podcast “The Old Man and the Three” and gave an in-depth look at the offense he runs with the Huskies. The coach said some of his sets have been inspired by what he has seen in football, especially from Kyle Shanahan, the offensive wizard who is the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers.

James responded to that video with a glowing comment about Hurley in a post on X.

“He’s so DAMN GOOD!!! Along with his staff. Super creative with their O! Love it”

After Darvin Ham, the Lakers’ previous head coach, showed glaring deficiencies when it came to being a tactician and making strategic adjustments, Hurley would be a refreshing hire.

LeBron James: Kyrie Irving is the NBA’s most gifted player ever

LeBron James had some massive praise for Kyrie Irving, his former Cavaliers championship teammate.

Several years ago, LeBron James and Kyrie Irving were teammates on the Cleveland Cavaliers, and in three seasons together, they went to the NBA Finals three times while winning it all in 2016.

Right now, three teams later, Irving is about to make his fourth finals appearance as a member of the Dallas Mavericks. Meanwhile, James is home after yet another disappointing season with the Los Angeles Lakers as he ponders his immediate basketball future.

On the latest episode of his “Mind the Game” podcast, James told co-host JJ Redick that while he’s proud of the growth Irving has shown, he’s also mad he isn’t teammates with Irving anymore.

James also heaped some massive praise on the eight-time All-Star.

Via ESPN:

“He’s the most gifted player the NBA has ever seen,” said James.

Lakers fans may feel that Kobe Bryant was the game’s most gifted player ever, and obviously Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird also have a strong argument. Of course, James himself could be called one of the two or three greatest physical specimens the league has ever seen.

In order for Irving to win his second world championship ring, he will have to overcome the Boston Celtics, one of his former teams, in the finals starting on Thursday.

LeBron James says he’s mad about not being Kyrie Irving’s teammate anymore

LeBron James wishes he could still be teammates with Kyrie Irving, who is about to appear in the NBA Finals for the fourth time.

Back in 2016, LeBron James teamed up with Kyrie Irving to deliver the Cleveland Cavaliers their first-ever NBA championship. They did so after overcoming a 3-1 series deficit in the NBA Finals against a Golden State Warriors team that had won a record 73 games during the regular season.

It looked like a partnership that would continue for years to come. However, in 2017, Irving demanded a trade and was sent to the Boston Celtics.

Now, Irving’s current team, the Dallas Mavericks, is about to play the Celtics in this year’s championship series. While the Celtics are strong favorites, Dallas does seem to have a real shot at winning it all.

On the “Mind the Game” podcast, James said that he’s “mad” he isn’t teammates with Irving.

Via ESPN:

“I’m so [expletive] happy and so proud to watch him continue his growth,” James told his co-host, JJ Redick. “I’m so [expletive] mad at the same time that I’m not his running mate anymore.”

James’ Los Angeles Lakers made a couple of attempts to trade for Irving not too long ago and reunite Irving with the four-time MVP. One attempt came in the summer of 2022, and the Lakers tried again midway through last season.

But the asking price was too steep, and the Brooklyn Nets instead shipped Irving to Dallas.

Windhorst: 76ers are a threat to sign LeBron James this summer

If LeBron James leaves the Lakers, the 76ers could sign him, especially since they would have one big advantage over other suitors.

LeBron James is about to opt out of his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers and become a free agent this summer. At the very least, that is the expectation, something that was apparently confirmed by James’ agent Rich Paul.

There is a general expectation that James will ultimately stay with the Lakers on a new contract. Opting out and agreeing to a new deal would have its advantages for the 39-year-old, including allowing him to have a rare no-trade clause added to that new deal.

But nothing is certain, especially when James is involved.

There is always the chance he will leave the Lakers this offseason. If that happens, Brian Windhorst believes the Philadelphia 76ers would have a real chance to land him, and that they would have a big advantage over other potential suitors — salary cap space.

“I think when you look at the options, I think the Lakers are still in a very, very strong position,” said Windhorst. “I would be surprised if he’s not a Laker. But it is fair to point out that Daryl Morey has been trying to sign LeBron for a decade now, multiple different opportunities, and of the teams that have a chance to win the championship next year, the only team with cap space that could offer LeBron a max contract is the 76ers. Other teams could do sign and trades, but the Lakers wouldn’t have to cooperate. The 76ers are a threat. I don’t think they’re a serious threat, but certainly in the NBA, you never rule anything out.”

A recent report by Keith Pompey in the Philadelphia Inquirer noted that James is one player the Sixers are interested in snagging in free agency.

Philly is already a very good team when healthy, but it needs that final piece to challenge teams such as the Boston Celtics and even the New York Knicks. If for whatever reason James becomes unhappy with the situation in Los Angeles, would he consider giving up his love for “Taco Tuesday” to become a Philly cheesesteak aficionado?

Stephen A. Smith on why Bronny James is No. 54 in ESPN’s mock draft

Stephen A. Smith believes it is fishy that Bronny James is No. 54 on ESPN’s mock draft and the Lakers have the No. 55 pick in the actual draft.

Bronny James, the son of LeBron James, is clearly the most talked about and polarizing prospect in this year’s NBA draft class.

Some, especially those who are sympathetic to his father, believe the younger James has tremendous star potential despite his struggles at the University of Southern California this past season. But others believe he will have a rough time trying to make it at the next level, and the only reason he’s considered a prospect is nepotism.

ESPN has listed the younger James at No. 54 in its latest mock draft. The Los Angeles Lakers, the elder James’ current team, just happens to have the No. 55 pick.

Stephen A. Smith, one of the network’s most prominent personalities, thinks  there may be something behind the younger James’ exact ranking in that mock draft (h/t Lakers Daily).

There has been plenty of speculation on where the 19-year-old will ultimately be taken in June’s draft. While it would make sense for him to be a late second-round pick (and some may say even that would be stretching it), some teams have reportedly considered taking him in the first round.

In fact, quite a few people have placed bets on him being the No. 1 pick in the entire draft.

The younger James averaged just 4.8 points and 2.1 assists in 19.4 minutes a game while shooting just 36.6% from the field and 26.7% from 3-point range this year as a freshman with the Trojans.

Of course, many think that if a team other than the Lakers takes him in the draft, they could end up landing his father in free agency. However, he will reportedly only work out for very few teams, including the Lakers and Phoenix Suns.

Bronny James will be staying in the 2024 NBA draft

Bronny James is moving forward toward entering the NBA next season.

Prospects who have made themselves available for this year’s NBA draft have until 11:59 p.m. New York time on Wednesday to decide whether to remain in the draft or return to the NCAA for another season.

Bronny James, the son of Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, declared himself draft-eligible several weeks ago. However, he also entered the transfer portal at the same time, presumably to keep his options open.

He struggled this past season as a freshman at the University of Southern California, leading plenty to feel his best bet would be to stay in school a little longer. He’s widely projected to be a second-round draft pick, but there are those who feel all the potential he is considered to possess is nothing more than a case of nepotism.

On Wednesday, Rich Paul, who represents both the younger and elder James, let it be known that the former will still be draft-eligible.

Via ESPN:

“USC freshman guard Bronny James will remain in the 2024 NBA draft and forgo his remaining collegiate eligibility, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul told ESPN,” wrote Adrian Wojnarowski and Jonathan Givony.

“Hours ahead of the 11:59 p.m. ET NCAA deadline Wednesday, Paul told ESPN: ‘He’s staying in the draft.'”

Paul also reiterated his belief in the younger James’ ultimate potential, especially if he lands in the right environment.

“Bronny’s (draft) range is wide,” Paul told ESPN. “He’s a really good prospect who has a lot of room for growth. It only takes one team. I don’t care where that team is — it can be No. 1 or 58 — (but) I do care about the plan, the development. The team’s strategy, the opportunity and the financial commitment.”

There continues to be the feeling that the team that drafts the younger James could end up landing his father in free agency this summer.

The 19-year-old will reportedly work out for a very limited number of teams. Among them will be the Lakers and Phoenix Suns.

Rich Paul sees silver lining in LeBron James not going deep into the NBA playoffs

Is Rich Paul right when he says the NBA can benefit from LeBron James exiting in the first round of the playoffs?

This year’s NBA playoffs have certainly been interesting and even unpredictable.

Many believed the Denver Nuggets, the defending world champs, were a favorite to repeat going into the playoffs, but they were dumped in the second round by the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Just when it seemed like the Timberwolves were coming of age and becoming a legitimate title contender, they fell behind 3-0 in the Western Conference finals to the Dallas Mavericks.

In contrast, Stephen Curry has been conspicuously absent from this year’s playoffs, while LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers exited in the first round.

One would think Rich Paul, James’ agent, would believe the four-time MVP being out of the postseason so early would be bad for the NBA. But Paul actually thinks it’s a good thing. He said it will allow younger stars to come into their own.

He made that observation during an interview with Chris Haynes.

Via Bleacher Report:

“Look, you can’t take anything away from ‘Bron and Steph. They earned the right to be front and center. They weren’t put front and center because of their looks; they were put front and center because of their production. They won. It was Golden State and Cleveland in the finals for four straight years.

“So the league needs that, but the league also needs new faces. LeBron went to eight straight finals and 10 out of 21 years, which is incredible. Steph has four rings and turned a franchise around that was in the lottery every year. You need those storylines, but you also need new storylines. That’s the balance. New rivalries will be established.”

Anthony Edwards of the Timberwolves has shown the potential to follow in the footsteps of Michael Jordan and late Lakers legend Kobe Bryant. Meanwhile, Luka Doncic is taking his game to another level, while teammate Kyrie Irving seems to be chasing away his personal demons.

As the name of a hit Journey song states, the wheel in the sky keeps turning. The NBA is certainly in good hands with young stars such as Doncic leading the way, while even younger ones such as Edwards and rookie Victor Wembanyama are coming fast.