Category: NBA Basketball

LeBron James had a hilarious arrival home on Thanksgiving morning

LeBron James had quite the hilarious experience when he arrived at his home in L.A. on Thanksgiving morning after a long trip.

All things considered, LeBron James was still thrilled to be home for Thanksgiving after a week away from Los Angeles while his Lakers were on their recent road trip. But sometimes the holidays can throw a wrench into an otherwise relaxing moment, even for LeBron. Luckily for us, James shared the moment with us in the wee hours of Thanksgiving morning yesterday.

Upon arriving home, he saw his daughter passed out in his spot on the bed with his wife and with his family visiting, all of the guest rooms in his house were spoken for. This is less than a week after LeBron’s pregame nap in Memphis was interrupted by a band outside the Grizzlies arena.

So if you were hoping yesterday to take a nap or escape the day without doing any slicing and got pulled into the kitchen or into another form of duty, just remember that LeBron was probably sleeping on a couch for his first day home from a long trip on Thanksgiving.

The holidays can be full of lessons sometimes.

 

 

LeBron James collides with Josh Hart but checks back into game

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James appeared to hit his knees with the thigh of Josh Hart during the first half of Wednesday’s game.

During Wednesday night’s nationally televised game between the Los Angeles Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans in Anthony Davis’ return to the Big Easy, fans had a brief scare when it comes to LeBron James. But a scare is all it was.

During a drive in the second quarter of Wednesday’s game, LeBron collided with his former Lakers teammate Josh Hart and he appeared to bang his left knee into Hart’s thigh. James was on the ground in pain for a few seconds and was subbed out of the game before getting checked out by his trainer Mike Mancias for a few minutes.

It wouldn’t be long for James, however, as he checked back into the action to finish the first half after the brief scare.

As for the game itself, Anthony Davis is having a monstrous offensive performance with 27 first half points but it isn’t resulting the way the Lakers would hope as they trail 64-54 at halftime. LeBron had 12 points and four assists while Jrue Holiday had 25 points for New Orleans.

 

LeBron James makes the day of a couple of kids in New Orleans with photo

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James was feeling the holiday spirit on Wednesday night ahead of their game against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Even though LeBron James could take the approach of Lakers Against The World as Anthony Davis makes his return to New Orleans for the first time as a visiting player, the spirit of the holiday season was too much for LeBron to ignore when he was approached by a couple of young fans outside of the Lakers team hotel in the Big Easy.

A father with his sons asked LeBron for a photo outside of the hotel and told him after he granted their wish that they’d waited five years to get a photo with The King. After James obliged for the photo, he wished the kids and father a Happy Thanksgiving.

Perhaps LeBron’s own kids and family were on his mind when he made the day of the family on Wednesday. But the good news for LeBron is that he doesn’t have to miss them too much longer as the Lakers will finally fly back westward to Los Angeles following the conclusion of tonight’s game against the Pelicans.

Davis’ return to New Orleans will be carried nationally on ESPN at 6:30 p.m. Pacific.

Lakers Anthony Davis hopes to ‘find the game’ in return to New Orleans

Los Angeles Lakers star big man Anthony Davis is making his return to New Orleans and LeBron James shared his experiences with him.

Like all successful teams, there’s a variety of factors playing into how the Los Angeles Lakers have found themselves with a 15-2 record atop the NBA standings. But a foundational part of their success has been the strong connection between their two superstars: LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

Davis’ ability to score is helping LeBron James have the greatest season of his career when it comes to assisting the ball and Davis’ defensive prowess, as well as his vocal establishment that defense must be important, has helped LeBron rediscover a defensive form not seen since his Miami Heat days. But in moments like Wednesday’s return to New Orleans, the wealth of experience James has, as much as his great play, can be a resource for Davis.

Davis has already leaned on LeBron’s experience in being in this position when he made his first return to Cleveland with the Miami Heat in 2010, according to USA TODAY’s Mark Medina.

“We talked about his first game and the stuff he was going through and how the game ended up,” Davis following morning shootaround. “He ended up finding the game and just being comfortable within the game of basketball. So, that’s kind of the same for me.”

James has discussed the nerves that Davis is likely feeling and going to feel as the day goes on heading into the game, but also expects when the ball is tipped that things will feel more normal for Davis. While Davis and LeBron see themselves in equals in leadership, tonight is one of the nights in which LeBron can take the lead for Davis until Davis feels normal.

[lawrence-related id=22452,22446]

 

Lonzo Ball questionable, Derrick Favors out for Pelicans vs. Lakers

One of the most well-known former Los Angeles Lakers on the Pelicans may not be able to play due to a stomach virus.

Tonight is all about Anthony Davis and his return to New Orleans as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, but Davis knows better than anyone that there’s another side to the coin in tonight’s Pelicans-Lakers matchup. However, circumstances may keep a few of the most well-known former Lakers involved in the Davis trade from playing against their former team.

The Pelicans are expected to have Brandon Ingram, who has been their leading scorer through the first month of the season, but they could be without both Lonzo Ball (illness) and Josh Hart (ankle). In addition to the ailing former Lakers, the Pelicans will also be without skilled defensive big man Derrick Favors, according to The Athletic’s Will Guillory.

Ingram had been with the Lakers for three years while Hart and Ball were both drafted in 2017 by the Lakers. Ingram in particular has made huge improvements this season, nearly doubling his scoring average while shooting almost 46% on 3-pointers so far this season.

As for the Lakers side of things, Avery Bradley and DeMarcus Cousins are the only names listed on the injury report.

Anthony Davis expects former Lakers to ‘take heads off’ Wednesday

Anthony Davis knows the spotlight is on him but knows the former Los Angeles Lakers on the Pelicans will have a point to prove too.

Anthony Davis making his first visit to New Orleans as a visiting player in the NBA is expected to take all of the headlines surrounding tomorrow’s game between the Pelicans and the Los Angeles Lakers. But Davis is also conscious that there’s another side to the story about the trade that landed him with the Lakers: the young former Lakers who are now members of the Pelicans.

Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart were all valued and beloved members of last year’s Lakers group who ended up in New Orleans. Davis believes that those spurned Lakers, if available to play, will look to “take off heads” against their former team, according to Bill Oram of The Athletic.

“It’s two-folded,” Davis said. “It’s going to be me (against the) Pelicans, and then the three guys (Ball, Ingram and Hart), if they play, against the Lakers. So it’s going to be a great battle. Those guys are going to try to take our heads off just to prove a point.”

Ball and Ingram should be ready to play while Hart missed the last game with an ankle injury.

 

LeBron James wants Lakers defense to remain ‘best in the league’

LeBron James has rarely gotten credit for his defense in recent years, but he stated it as a team goal to be the best defense in the league.

It’s been the common thread from the start of the Los Angeles Lakers season until now, but it bears repeating as long as they keep it going, that they’ve won with their defense. Anthony Davis has rightfully gotten much of the credit as he openly discussed the Lakers having a more defensive mindset and challenging LeBron James to be a great defender again.

Now the defense-first rhetoric that came from Davis and head coach Frank Vogel has even trickled over to LeBron James, a player whom many thought had left his days of playing defense in the regular season behind him. Following last night’s win in San Antonio, James told reporters that he wants the Lakers to “strangle” their opponents and be the best defense in the NBA.

Via Silver Screen and Roll 

“We’re a defensive-minded team. That’s where we want to make our mark, that’s where we want to be the best in the league. Be able to just strangle teams in the fourth quarter… Honestly, we want to strangle them for 48 minutes, but teams are going to make runs, teams are going to make plays and we’ve got to be consistent with our game plan, and we did that tonight, especially in the fourth.”

According to Basketball-Reference, the Lakers have No. 1 defensive rating in the league while NBA.com has them ranked No. 7. But as LeBron mentioned about shutting teams down in the fourth quarter, the Lakers have unquestionably done that better than anyone with a fourth quarter defensive rating of 96.5 according to NBA.com, best in the league. When it’s been winning time, the Lakers have shut their opponents down. More than anything, that’s the reason they have the best record in the NBA.

 

 

LeBron James and Lakers spotted celebrating win over dinner in San Antonio

LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers decided to celebrate Taco Tuesday a little early after Monday’s win in San Antonio.

How do you follow up your eighth straight victory and once again claiming the NBA’s best record for another night? You celebrate Taco Tuesday early, of course.

LeBron James dropped 33 points and 14 assists, including four 3-pointers, as the Lakers pushed their record to 15-2 and ripped of their 15th win in their last 16 attempts. The Lakers are rolling right now and even though by this time last year things had been improving, last year’s team never resembled what this Lakers team currently does. If you needed any other evidence, LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the rest of the squad were spotted grabbing dinner at San Antonio Mexican restaurant “Mi Tierra.”

LeBron also gave passers by an early rendition of ‘TACO TUESDAY.’

LeBron definitely tried to take the Lakers under his wing last year, but the generation gap between he and last year’s Lakers core was likely to wide to bridge. Although some youngsters like Kyle Kuzma (who will tell you 24 isn’t young) are still around, the vibes around the Lakers are as good as any of their fans could have imagined just over a month into the season.

LeBron James credits Spurs, Finals battles for improving his jumper

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James wouldn’t be as dangerous today if it weren’t for his early battles with the San Antonio Spurs.

It’s important to note that LeBron James always had a jump shot that at least looked good and he used from time-to-time, dating all the way back to his high school days. But it wasn’t until he was pushed to the game’s biggest stage that his inconsistent shooting had become such a problem that it was getting in the way of his growth.

The 2007 NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs, a sudden crash after the highs of LeBron plowing through the Detroit Pistons for the first time, exposed James’ inconsistent jump shot as Gregg Popovich and co. dared him to shoot from the outside en route to a sweep. Fast forward about 12 years and now James is one of the most prolific outside shooters in NBA history, passing Peja Stojakovic for No. 18 on the NBA’s 3-point leaderboard, against those same Spurs.

James reflected on the part the Spurs played in his growth as a player, to the point where he wants to have “no weaknesses.”

After pushing through the Pistons in 2007, the Spurs became LeBron’s primary nemesis for the next seven years. Although he also had battles with the Boston Celtics in the East, James would meet the Spurs twice in the Finals during his years with the Miami Heat.

But without the Spurs James would likely never have been pushed to be the shooter he has become. And adding a more consistent 3-point shot to his arsenal has also allowed him to produce at incredible levels even during his 17th season.

 

LeBron James drops 33 and 14 to push Lakers to eighth straight win

LeBron James continues to push the Los Angeles Lakers to stay amongst the top of the Western Conference ahead of Anthony Davis homecoming.

The Los Angeles Lakers left the court victorious once again as they’re now on their longest win-streak of the season and continue to add to their NBA-best record at 15-2. With the win, the Lakers have won their eighth straight game, surpassing their seven-game win-streak to begin the season after their opening night loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.

LeBron James led the way with 33 points and 14 points, while the Lakers as a team got some contributions from unexpected places. Rajon Rondo hit three 3-pointers on the night, making all of his attempts, while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Troy Daniels each made three 3-pointers to join LeBron (four 3-pointers) on the outside barrage that helped the Lakers survive a rough offensive night for Anthony Davis.

Nobody would blame Davis if he were thinking ahead to Wednesday night’s first ever visit to New Orleans in another uniform and the Lakers, particularly LeBron, made sure to do enough to make it so his bad shooting wasn’t a big deal.

But the dessert of the road trip is now on the horizon as Anthony Davis makes his return to New Orleans. But the best thing for Davis to take heed of is that no matter how bad it is in New Orleans, LeBron has seen and experienced worse.