Wendell Carter Jr – Syndication Server

LeBron James playfully tried on Wendell Carter’s goggles after Dwight Howard accidentally broke them

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James enjoyed what was easily among his best games of the season in a win over the Orlando Magic on Sunday.

James recorded 30 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists and 3 blocks during the game on Dec. 12. It was the second game in a row in which he reached at least 30 points and it was also the eighth time that he has accomplished as much in the sixteen games he has played so far this season.

It was a much-needed victory for the Lakers, who moved to two games above .500 by defeating the Magic. James was having fun while on the court, which included a fairly strange and silly moment for the four-time MVP.

LeBron really put on Wendell Carter Jr.'s goggles after this play 😂🥽 pic.twitter.com/hpUz6XlLh3

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 13, 2021

During the game against Orlando, LeBron’s teammate Dwight Howard attempted to save a ball from going out of bounds. In the process, while successfully preventing the turnover, he inadvertently hit Magic big man Wendell Carter Jr. in the face.

The force of the throw knocked Carter’s goggles off and James playfully tried them on for a brief moment in which, while wearing the iconic Lakers jersey, he resembled Los Angeles legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

This was not the first time Carter’s protective eyewear has made the news recently. He was recently ejected — and subsequently fined $35,000 — for throwing his broken goggles at a referee during a loss against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Nov. 27.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01f09kz5ecxq9bp57b player_id=01f1jz39sevw828w2p image=https://ftw.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

[listicle id=1282808]

Three in the Key: Analyzing Fred VanVleet, Jarred Vanderbilt and Wendell Carter Jr.

As part of an ongoing series at HoopsHype, we’re breaking down three interesting topics we have seen around the NBA throughout the season.

Of course, the name of this column is derived from basketball’s three-second violation rule. With that in mind, the goal of this exercise is to observe three subjects about the game. We want to explain the key to why it is happening while also providing context on what makes it interesting.

Here are three more of our highlights from the NBA’s 2021-22 season:

Three in the Key: Analyzing Fred VanVleet, Jarred Vanderbilt and Wendell Carter Jr.

As part of an ongoing series at HoopsHype, we’re breaking down three interesting topics we have seen around the NBA throughout the season.

Here are three more of our highlights from the NBA’s 2021-22 season:

NBA trade deadline: Projected rotation for Bulls with Nikola Vucevic

The Chicago Bulls made three moves on the day of the 2021 NBA trade deadline, ultimately landing Nikola Vucevic as well as Daniel Theis.

The Chicago Bulls made three moves on the day of the 2021 NBA trade deadline, ultimately landing Nikola Vucevic as well as Daniel Theis.

With their deadline acquisitions, Chicago’s front office has seemingly pushed its chips into the center of the table. The Bulls are prepared to make a run towards the postseason in the Eastern Conference and their new-and-improved roster is now more intimidating today than it was yesterday.

Earlier today, we wrote about why Chicago’s offense is going to be a lot better with Zach LaVine playing alongside Vucevic. But they have also improved their frontcourt depth by adding Theis, a versatile big man who they landed from the Boston Celtics.

The Bulls in totality have moved on from Wendell Carter Jr., Otto Porter Jr., Daniel Gafford, Chandler Hutchinson and Luke Kornet after all of their moves.

In return, in addition to Vucevic and Theis, they have brought back veteran Al-Farouq Aminu from the Orlando Magic and 21-year-old Troy Brown from the Washington Wizards.

So to help you visualize what this team looks like, below, we have broken down the new group for the Bulls as they prepare to make a playoff push.

The league is moving more and more towards positionless basketball. Note that we define “guards” as the playmakers and primary initiators, “wings” as the versatile athletes who can typically play somewhere between two through four and “bigs” as the main frontcourt threat.

It was estimated then he would miss …

It was estimated then he would miss four to six weeks. This Monday will be six weeks. Carter was replaced for the Friday night game with Zion Williamson. “I’m definitely feeling a lot better,” Carter said as the freshmen and sophomores prepared for practice. Continuously doing therapy. I want to be back the next game. That’s what I’m shooting for right now. I don’t know if that’s going to happen; that’s definitely what I’m shooting for.”

“I feel we have to get healthy,” Carter …

“I feel we have to get healthy,” Carter added about the priority. “Just the fact I haven’t been healthy again (missing the last three months of 2018-19 with a thumb fracture). It kind of sucks I wasn’t able to help my team as much (again). I feel like the health aspect is the most important right now and once we get healthy we can evaluate what we need to work on. I see a (playoff) possibility for this year. I feel once I come back and am able to play for my team I feel we can win enough games to get into the playoffs. That’s my mind set.”

“I definitely think I’m on the right …

“I definitely think I’m on the right path to becoming an All-Star,” the 6-9 center said. “When? I’m not sure. But I feel like the pace I’m going and my respect for the game, the way I play and how effective I am when I play, I feel I’m on a pretty good path to making it as an All Star. (By) just out working everybody. The only way for you to become an All-Star (there is) talent, of course, but outworking and showcasing every night and being consistent and showing the league no matter who you are playing against you are going to play the same. I feel that separates a good player from an All-Star.”