The Lakers lost again. LeBron James passed Michael Jordan for No. 4 on the all-time scoring list, doing it on fewer field goal attempts but more games. But it’s a bittersweet accomplishment, and one that means nothing to most Lakers fans, who have little in the way of emotional ties to LeBron. In fact, many of them pine for Kobe Bryant, whose fans often try to insert him in Jordan-LeBron discussions, which is absolutely adorable.
The Lakers haven’t been this awful since literally each of the past 5 seasons
We have that and more in Thursday’s NBA newsletter.
Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images
There’s a brewing implication that LeBron is actually hurting the Lakers’ long-range prospects, that he signed only to make some more money tying his mammoth brand to the Lakers’ mammoth brand, that he signed in L.A. to give himself a platform as an entertainment mogul. The Lakers really aren’t much better than they were last season in the aggregate. When L.A. signed LeBron early in free agency, they expected to be BACK, not still in the back of the West.
Good thing Lakers fans have gotten used to rooting for a garbage team.
This is the funny thing to me: the Lakers are the most privileged franchise in the NBA. They missed the playoffs five times in five decades leading up into the early 2010s. They have almost always had at least one first-ballot Hall of Famer on the roster, and usually a couple. Until recently, the Lakers knew no pain when it came to their basketball fandom.
L.A. missed the playoffs the last five years, going 126-284 over that spell. This season will end up being another under .500, another out of the playoffs. What changed? Why is this painful in a special way? Because Lakers exceptionalism means grabbing a potential G.O.A.T. on July 2 and thinking you’re a title contender immediately, even if the G.O.A.T. also arrives with JaVale McGee, Michael Beasley, Rajon Rondo, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Lance Stephenson. Lakers exceptionalism means down periods end with catapults into the stratosphere. Lakers exceptionalism means failure is an asterisk and success is the norm.
We thought Magic Johnson brought Lakers exceptionalism back by landing LeBron. It turns out it takes a little more than that in the Western Conference. Whoops.
Scores
Heat 91, Hornets 84
Timberwolves 114, Pistons 131
Mavericks 123, Wizards 132
Spurs 111, Hawks 104
Cavaliers 107, Nets 113
Sixers 107, Bulls 108
Jazz 114, Pelicans 104
Knicks 96, Suns 107
Celtics 111, Kings 109
Nuggets 115, Lakers 99
Schedule
All times Eastern.
Pacers at Bucks, 8, TNT
Thunder at Blazers, 10:30, TNT
Links
The Lakers can technically trade LeBron. And maybe in theory they should. Here are three reasons they absolutely cannot even think about doing it, though.
Kevin Durant is taking shots at Steve Kerr now, huh? Woo, the Warriors are going to relish in beating the holy hades out of the Knicks next season ...
Laugh all you want about the focus on individual accomplishments as the team smolders in ruin, but LeBron’s comments on what passing Michael Jordan on the all-time scoring list mean to him are really sweet and thoughtful. I probably would have screamed “GOAT B---H!” or starting braying or something, so it’s good that LeBron is actually a well-developed emotional being.
The Lakers think every other team is out to get them. If by “get them” means “laughing as they fail again,” then ABSOLUTELY.
Going to SXSW? You don’t want to miss Natalie Weiner’s panel on the sports gender pay gap and equal opportunity, also starring Pacers assistant GM Kelly Krauskopf. Details here.
The Wizards might move on from Steve Buckhantz. Huh.
The most important link ever presented in this newsletter (since the last time I linked the Bobby Flay dance Vine).
Chiquita Evans has become the first woman drafted into the NBA2K League.
Beautiful story from Alex Wong on a conversation about the future that Jeremy Lin, Danny Green, and Steve Novak had in an Idaho P.F. Chang’s while they were in the D-League eight years ago, and the reunion for Lin and Green in Toronto now.
According to the data, LeBron and Rajon Rondo are a bad, bad mix.
Pascal Siakam is the frontrunner for Most Improved Player, but there are at least four other players in the mix.
Be excellent to each other.
See More:
