He was great, but L.A. wasn’t.
Calling LeBron James the best basketball player in the world is both true and insufficient. It’s like referring to Hercules as antiquity’s strongest hero. It’s technically accurate. It checks out. But it wildly understates what defines our protagonist.
LeBron James’ start with the Los Angeles Lakers couldn’t have gone much better, even though the team fell to the Portland Trail Blazers on the road, 128-119. He started by running the floor on a breakaway and absolutely slamming a ball through the net. He continued on the next play by running the floor and slamming a ball through the net. It was vintage LeBron in a new uniform.
The growing pains were real though, as James was visibly frustrated trying to direct the young Lakers every which way. The team needs a ton of adjustments, which is par for the course when the best player of all time suddenly steps on the floor. Most notably there were a number of defensive breakdowns which allowed Nik Stauskas (yeah seriously him) to spoil LeBron’s opener with 24 points on five made threes.
James as an individual was still brilliant with 26 points, 12 rebounds and six assists, but it wasn’t enough.
Here’s what you missed in LeBron’s first 48 minutes in purple and gold.
If this is what LeBron wears after three months in L.A. I can’t even imagine what the end of his contract is gonna be like.
Hahaha just look at his eyes when he saw a lane open to drive through. Good lord, he made his presence known early. This was precisely what every Lakers fan has had in mind since July.
Not to be confused with the first time LeBron put Portland on pause, LeBron’s second dunk was emphatic and sent chills down everyone’s spines. For whatever reason, Bron doing Bron things in a gold uniform does that to people.
If you’re looking for Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum highlights, you’re on the wrong blog. It was the Michigan alum who went off when Portland needed it most on 7-of-11 shooting.
“Any time y’all fall, stay down. your brother’ll come pick you up,” James said to a horde of 20-somethings. He’s gotta love playing with a group that listens to his every word.
The rookie is injured so he’s all dressed up in a suit, and it appears his position for the time being is LeBron’s personal seat cushion provider hahaha. The swiftness made that move look rehearsed.
Hart’s picked up steam as one of the most talked about Lakers rookie behind Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball and he was spectacular in the season opener. He swooshed shots from deep and slashed to the rim like a wing who deserves to start.
It’s just one out of 82. No reason to be alarmed. The Lakers showed plenty of signs of life. Rajon Rondo looked sharp running the offense, and Ingram, Ball and Kyle Kuzma all had their flashes. This season is all about growth for L.A. and figuring out who fits next to LeBron.
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