The Cavaliers beat the Lakers on Thursday on national TV. Afterward, LeBron James, who is a free agent in July and bought a second home in Los Angeles last summer, chatted discreetly (but not too discreetly) with Lonzo Ball, the young Lakers star with whom he has a mutually complimentary public rapport, despite Lonzo’s father’s best efforts.
LeBron trolls us with more Lakers clues
We have that and more in Friday’s NBA newsletter.
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This is circumspect but for the fact that LeBron knows well we all hang on every hint he offers and that LeBron knows the cameras will be zoomed in hard on him speaking to Lonzo given that they are the two most famous people on the court.
LeBron knows and loathes the Lakers rumors to the point that he skipped group media availability at shootaround on Thursday; LeBron knows and loves the Lakers rumors to the point that he’s probably chatting with Lonzo on the sly simply to enflame the passions of strangers.
Remember, All-Star Weekend is in Los Angeles this season. It’s going to be a mess of rumor and hint-hunting. LeBron is going to hate it and love it.
Scores Galore ...
DET 105, ATL 91
NYK 111, BKN 104
LAL 112, CLE 121
SAC 96, MIN 119
DAL 97, GSW 112
... And So Much More
I wrote about how the blockbuster Disney-Fox deal — one that will transfer control of 22 regional sports networks that broadcast 17 NBA teams’ games — will affect fans and the league.
Downside of sitting courtside at an NBA game: You might get hit with an errant pass. Upside of sitting courtside at an NBA game: Kevin Durant might kiss the top of your head to say, sorry.
The final set of new Nike jerseys apparently leaked via 2K. They are...interesting. That Magic shirt, holy smokes!
Monty McCutchen, one of the better refs, is moving into the league office to run training and development for the official corps.
In the second quarter, Brook Lopez airballed two free throws, got hung on the rim on an alley-oop, and had one of the more egregious Business Decisions of the young season. Is he shaving points?
Charles Barkley committed $1 million to tech startups run by black women in Alabama. Cool.
Harrison Barnes, noted interesting person, interviews Dr. Harry Edwards.
The Cavaliers roasted Lonzo by playing Nas during warm-ups. Ten bucks says Lonzo didn’t even know it was Nas.
Things you cannot make up: Nikola Mirotic and Bobby Portis are statistically the Bulls’ best two-man combo.
Folks are mad in Phoenix. Billboards calling for Robert Sarver to sell the Suns are up.
Here’s the national TV outlook for the weekend. On Friday, we have Thunder-Sixers on ESPN at 7 p.m. ET and Spurs-Rockets at 9:30. (Double fun!) More Thunder on Saturday as NBA TV has Carmelo Anthony’s return to New York against the Knicks at 7:30 p.m. ET. No national TV on Sunday, but Cleveland-Washington (6 p.m. ET) is always fun.
Be excellent to each other.
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