Larry Bird calls LeBron James one of the greats, 'if not the greatest ever'

Boston Celtics fans aren't known for their admiration or love for Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James. Since James joined the league in 2003, he's been a villain and foil for Boston, but one member of the Celtics orbit thinks it's time for fans to soften their criticism and embrace James. Hall of Famer Larry Bird recently explained why he thinks fans across the NBA need to celebrate the 39-year-old James.

"Quit whining about LeBron," Bird said. "Enjoy him while he's here. He's unbelievable. He's one of the greatest, if not the greatest ever."

You can check out Bird's full comments concerning James on YouTube, courtesy of Hoop Dreams.

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LeBron James, Darvin Ham on Lakers’ lack of energy versus the Pacers

Over the last couple of seasons, every time it has seemed like the Los Angeles Lakers have been building positive momentum, they have found a way to stop it.

They took a five-game winning streak into the Midwest on Friday and took on the Indiana Pacers, a team they had defeated fairly easily in two previous meetings this season. But after scoring a season-high 150 points against it on Sunday, they could only muster a season-worst 90 points and lost by 19.

Los Angeles couldn’t hit the board side of a barn from 3-point range, and it only scored 39 second-half points after trailing by just five at halftime.

There was nothing necessarily wrong with the team’s effort. But something was simply missing, and LeBron James said it simply didn’t have the same energy in its third game in four nights.

Head coach Darvin Ham seemed to agree while reiterating the importance of the Lakers playing up-tempo basketball, something they didn’t consistently do on Friday.

Darvin Ham: "I thought we were running in mud a little bit. Third game, four nights… it's a combination of a couple different factors… Just didn't have a lot of pop on the offensive side of things." pic.twitter.com/PWm9b4Oudy

â€" Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) March 30, 2024

The Lakers’ next three games will be against sub-.500 opponents in the Brooklyn Nets, Toronto Raptors and Washington Wizards, but none of them will be easy. The Nets defeated them easily in January, while the Raptors and Wizards gave them all they could handle before losing by a combined four points.

Story originally appeared on LeBron Wire

Lakers News: LeBron James Explains Why Young Hoopers Bother "The F--- Out of Me"

Twenty-time NBA All-Star Los Angeles Lakers All-Star combo forward LeBron James has a bone to pick with the NBA's younger players. The 21-season league vet, who has spent more time playing in the NBA in his 39 years on this planet than not, took to Mind The Game, his brand-new podcast with former sharpshooting swingman J.J. Redick (who is the same age and long-since retired) to discuss an ethos to NBA games that bothers him to no end.

"Everyone now has a narrative of this thing called, 'I have a bag,' or 'He doesn't have a bag,'" James said. "It bothers the f--- out of me. Everyone thinks just because you get a favorable matchup that it means it's one-on-one time. 'Let's play ones.' That's all you hear the kids talk about now. ...

"What the f--- is this? This is not Jordan vs. Bird Nintendo. It's five-on-five, and yes, if you have an opportunity to have a favorable matchup and you can beat your man, but realize something. Most great teams are going to send help, and can you make the right reads? Can you instill confidence in your teammates to when you've scored twice in that favorable matchup, do you know that the double is coming? And you have to see it either coming from the tilt on the baseline or from the fire from the nail. You have to be ready for that."

LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers, the league's oldest player, handles the ball against GG Jackson #45 of the Memphis Grizzlies, the league's youngest player, during the first half at FedExForum on March... LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers, the league's oldest player, handles the ball against GG Jackson #45 of the Memphis Grizzlies, the league's youngest player, during the first half at FedExForum on March 27, 2024 in Memphis, Tennessee. James has a grievance with the next generation of hoopers. More Justin Ford/Getty Images

By "favorable matchup," James is referring to offensive players who find themselves with a size, strength or speed advantage in a defensive coverage situation. James, of course, is usually that exact player himself given his physical gifts, but he is famous for being a great distributor who earlier in his career was accused of being too deferential, if anything. This year, he's averaging 8.1 dimes a game.

"And it takes time for guys," James continued. "Some guys don't wanna learn and won't learn because they just wanna play ones. I've had guys on the court that literally said to me before, 'Why y'all doubling me? Stop doubling me, let me play ones.' 'You have 40! No, we're going to double you not only because you're great, but also I know none of your teammates have been in a rhythm all game, and we're going to see if they can make a shot.'"

It's a fascinating revelation. The fact that the next generation of great NBA talent wants to prioritize isolation ball over anything else is somewhat ominous.

Happily, however, there is still hope for the future. Some of the best young players in today's game are also some of its best passers. Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic is also one of the elite playmakers in the game, as is Dallas Mavericks combo guard Luka Doncic. Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who has emerged as a leading MVP candidate this season along with those two more established stars, also sports solid passing instincts in addition to his gifts as a scorer.

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

California elite enraged after squatters invade $5M home in LeBron James, Jennifer Lopez's luxury neighborhood

Wealthy Californians in a neighborhood on the outskirts of Beverly Hills are reportedly enraged after a $5 million home was invaded by squatters and became a source of rowdy parties. 

Beverly Grove is home to the elite of the elite in California. A-list celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez and LeBron James, entrepreneurs, hedge-fund investors, heiresses, and studio executives own homes in the quiet cul-de-sac. That was until squatters invaded in October and locals started complaining about them allegedly throwing "wild parties" with "cocaine and orgies." 

The neighbors are getting fed up, including reportedly James, according to a report in New York Magazine's Curbed. 

ARMY RESERVIST REACTS TO COURT FINALLY GIVING SQUATTER THE BOOT: 'SHE DEFINITELY KNEW THE SYSTEM'

Ben Affleck Jennifer Lopez LeBron James

"One of the neighbors got in touch with LeBron James's house manager. They were told James was very concerned," the report said. 

A tech entrepreneur, Rick Rankin, who lived nearby said, "I wasn't born yesterday. They're jittery; their eyes are spinning. They were clearly on something." 

The report referenced an unnamed "producer" who questioned, "Who the f--- are these people squatting in the most exclusive Zip Code in America?"

POLITICALLY INCORRECT SHERIFF TELLS CITIZENS TO SHOOT TO KILL HOME INVADERS TO 'SAVE TAXPAYERS MONEY'

At one point, the producer confronted the squatters, one of whom brazenly greeted him saying, "Hi, I'm your new neighbor," when he brought police over to the residence. 

"You're not my new neighbor. Go f--- yourself," the producer responded. 

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck.  (Pascal Le Segretain via Getty Images)

LANDLORD DESCRIBES 'FILTHY,' 'GUT-WRENCHING' DISCOVERY FROM 'ONLYFANS INFLUENCER' SQUATTER

The ordeal began when a real estate agent of a $5M home, John A. Woodward IV, was notified by one of the pool workers that a U-haul truck had pulled up. The agent immediately went to the property. He found that the locks had been changed and the FOR SALE sign was gone. 

Police then informed Woodward that their hands were tied because it was a "civil matter" since squatters produced what they claimed was a rental agreement. 

According to the report, the locals are fired up – complaining every single day among themselves about the squatters and haranguing the association to do something about it. 

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James gestures to a referee during the first half in Game 3 of an NBA basketball Western Conference semifinal against the Golden State Warriors Saturday, May 6, 2023, in Los Angeles.  (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

"The neighbors heard through the grapevine that someone from the [George Gascón] DA's office, apparently having heard about the situation at 1316, had said, 'Squatters have rights.' This set the group chat aflame. 'Welcome to California,' one wrote. 'Thanks Liberals,'" Curbed reported. 

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According to USA TODAY, the sprawling residence was previously owned by an orthopedic surgeon, Munir Uwaydah, who fled to Lebanon after he was accused in the murder of his 21-year-old model girlfriend Julianna Redding.

"These squatters have been here since October, charging rents for rooms and throwing massive parties all night long," the real estate agent previously said. "I just want to get this house sold to satisfy the court." 

Hannah Grossman is a Reporter at Fox News Digital.

Report: LeBron James' HS Teammate Dru Joyce III Named Duquesne Men's Basketball HC

Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Duquesne associate head coach Dru Joyce III, who was teammates with LeBron James at St. Vincent-St. Mary, is getting his first opportunity as a head coach at the college level.

Per CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein, Joyce is being hired by Duquesne after Keith Dambrot retired following the team's loss to Illinois in the NCAA tournament.

James confirmed the news via X:

Dambrot was a head coach for 22 seasons with three different programs. He spent seven seasons with the Dukes after being hired in March 2017. The 65-year-old the coach at St. Vincent-St. Mary for the first two seasons Joyce and James were on the team.

After the 2000-01 high school season, Dambrot took an assistant head-coaching job at his alma mater, the University of Akron. He was promoted to head coach starting with the 2004-05 season.

Joyce played for the Zips from 2003 to '07. He had a 13-year career playing professional basketball in various leagues overseas, including Basketball Bundesliga, the Polish Basketball League and ProA.

After his playing career ended, Joyce returned to his home state after accepting a job as an assistant on Dennis Gates' staff at Cleveland State in August 2019.

Dambrot announced before the start of the NCAA tournament he was going to retire at the end of the season.

"I didn't want to cheat [the job]," Dambrot said. "And I just felt like I could see myself losing that edge at some point. And that's why I said, 'I don't want to end like that.' I'm not built that way."

The Dukes defeated BYU in the first round for the program's first tournament victory since the 1968-69 season when there were only 25 teams in the field. They lost in the second round to Illinois on March 23.

Joyce just wrapped up his second season as the associate head coach on Dambrot's staff. He is taking over a program that has won at least 20 games in consecutive years for the first time since 1970-71 and 1971-1972.

'He's gotten better and better'; LeBron James impressed by Grizzlies' GG Jackson

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No. 2 NBA Draft pick Brandon Miller calls Paul George ‘my GOAT’ and disses LeBron James

Current NBA rookies were born in this century and most don't know too much about the stars who dominated the league in the 80s and 90s. Brandon Miller, for example, is well aware of who Michael Jordan is, but never considered himself a die-hard fan of the player who most experts agree is the greatest basketball athlete of all time. 

According to the current No.2 NBA Draft pick, he discovered his favourite player while browsing on YouTube. The Hornets forward, who grew up in Tennessee, idolised Paul George during his youth. He admired his smooth shooting, his ability to soar towards dunks, his stellar footwork and his teamwork plays.

While you'd think he would be more impressed with the likes of Kobe Bryant, LeBron James or even Stephen Curry, he revealed he always studied the current Clippers star. "I just never really studied LeBron," he said. "I don't knock LeBron. We know LeBron's the GOAT [for many others], best player for sure. But that was never my objective to study LeBron or study Kobe."

Brandon went all the way to call the veteran forward the best he's ever seen. "Paul George is the best player in my eyes … I don't really watch anybody else as far as trying to get their moves down. Paul George is my GOAT," Miller claimed.

When he first called George his idol, many ridiculed him for his choice, but the NBA world shortly realised that he's not the only one with sees the 33-year-old as one of the best of the generation. After 14 campaigns in the league, Paul has been selected nine times to the All-Star Game, two All-Defensive first-team honours and one All-NBA first-team selection.

According to the 21-year-old, the Clippers wing is the perfect player to study for his generation. He's convinced that many younger players are viewing the six-foot-eight veteran as the ideal NBA archetype, and is inspiring a new wave of tall wings. "It's kind of how the league is built now," he insisted. "Paul George is the right person to study for this generation."

George's game also reached veterans like Aaron Gordon, who has revealed he copied his wide range of moves. "He has some really nasty s— in his bag," said the Nuggets star. "I took a step-back from him. He drops it through his leg, back to the same hand and then jabs you. He steps back and that s— is nasty."

The Clippers wing admitted that he's noticed how there's a younger generation of players approaching him

According to George, for the past decade he's felt the appreciation from the younger generation, or what he called "that next wave of guys." Ever since his 2015/16 campaign with the Pacers, he noticed how rookies were treating him like his basketball role model.

"Coming into that year is where I slowly started to hear, 'Yo, you're my favorite player. I look up to you,'" Paul told the press. "My come up is where the young generation started to kind of gravitate towards me."

However, many of these players are slowly becoming veterans in the league, and have remained in awe of George's ability ever since they went professional. One great example is Karl-Anthony Towns, who ended up becoming one of his closest friends.

"He's so smooth," the Minnesota center said. "His game is so fluid. He can do everything on the court. He has a great post-up game, fadeaway, either shoulder, step-back, going either way. Psssshhh, he can do everything."

Is LeBron James (ankle) playing tonight against Bucks?

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James (left ankle peroneal tendinopathy) has been downgraded to out for Tuesday night's road game against the Milwaukee Bucks, according to reports. He was originally listed as doubtful.

This is the 10th game overall that James has missed this season. James, 39, has been dealing with the ankle issue for months. He hobbled off the court with four minutes left in a 130-120 loss to Sacramento on March 6.

According to multiple NBA betting sites, the Lakers hold ninth-shortest odds to win the championship. Sportsbooks are showing better odds for the Minnesota Timberwolves and Phoenix Suns.

The last game James missed was the Lakers' 123-122 win over Milwaukee on March 8. Lakers coach Darvin Ham started Spencer Dinwiddie in James' place in that victory.

Dinwiddie blocked Damian Lillard's step-back jumper right before the buzzer to secure the win. D'Angelo Russell scored 21 of his season-high 44 points in the fourth quarter and hit a go-ahead jumper with 5.9 seconds to play.

Russell is no longer on the Lakers' injury after missing the Indiana game with a non-COVID illness.

Through 62 games (all starts), James is averaging 25.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, 8.1 assists, 1.2 steals, and 35.2 minutes per game. The four-time MVP is shooting 53% from the field, 40.6% from 3-point range, and 75.1% at the foul line.

The Bucks (46-25) game is the start of a six-game road trip for the Lakers (39-32), who rank No. 9 in the Western Conference standings with 11 games left to play. Los Angeles sits three games behind the Suns (42-30) for the No. 6 spot.

The Nos. 7 and 8 seeds participate in the play-in tournament. Of course, the Lakers are 2 1/2 games ahead of the 10th-seeded Golden State Warriors (36-34).

Furthermore, the Lakers are 4-10 in their last 14 meetings with Milwaukee. However, Los Angeles has won 10 straight matchups with an Eastern Conference opponent. The Bucks have won six straight at home as well.

NBA sportsbooks show the Bucks as 9.5-point favorites against Los Angeles. Per ESPN's Basketball Power Index, Milwaukee holds a 69.8% chance of defeating the Lakers team without LeBron James.

Lakers' LeBron James: 'I Kind of Stopped Looking at' NBA Standings Amid Play-In Race

Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images

LeBron James isn't overly concerned with the Western Conference standings.

The Los Angeles Lakers superstar recently told reporters that he's focused on taking things day by day instead of closely monitoring the standings as the team battles for postseason positioning.

"It has been flip-flopping so much over the last few weeks that I kind of stopped looking at it and kind of focused on each game at a time," James said, per Ryan Ward of Lakers Nation. "Obviously, we know where we are right now, but are going to continue to play good basketball."

Los Angeles currently sits at 39-32 on the season as a whole, good enough for the No. 9 seed in the West. The Lakers are three games back of the sixth-seeded Phoenix Suns, which would allow the team to automatically qualify for the playoffs and avoid the play-in tournament.

However, head coach Darvin Ham's squad is also at risk of falling out of the play-in picture entirely as Los Angeles is just three and a half games up on the Houston Rockets at No. 11. With just 11 games remaining in the regular season, every contest will be extremely important for James and the Lakers.

Los Angeles has been improving as of late, emerging victorious in five of its past seven contests while currently riding a three-game winning streak. This included a defeat of the Indiana Pacers on Sunday in which the Lakers put up a season-high 150 points.

As for James, he's continued to play at a high level and help the team rack up wins. In 62 starts, the NBA's all-time leading scorer is averaging 25.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 8.1 assists per game while shooting 53.0 percent from the field and 40.6 percent from behind the arc.

Anthony Davis, LeBron James lead Lakers to season-high in points in win vs. Pacers

By HoopsHype | March 25, 2024

Jovan Buha: Final: Lakers 150, Pacers 145 LA improves to 39-32 — the first time they've been 7 games above .500 this season. They're 2.5 games up on Golden State now. AD had 36 points and 16 rebounds. LeBron had 26/5/10. AR had 25 and 8. Spencer Dinwiddie had 26. Up next: at MIL on Tues.Source: Twitter @jovanbuha What's the buzz on Twitter? Ryan Ward @RyanWardLAAD on Spencer Dinwiddie's 26 points: "Just being aggressive. I said last game, he started to find his way and he was aggressive last game. He just carried that over by being himself. Hit some threes. Attacking the basket. Being the Spencer that we need him to be." – 2:22 AM Dave McMenamin @mctenThe Lakers are 9th in the West with 11 games remaining – 3 games out of No. 6 to avoid the play-in and 3 1/2 game up on No. 11. LeBron James says he has tried to focus on the day to day challenge versus his team's spot in the standings pic.twitter.com/WoOiLUwbVM – 2:12 AM Ryan Ward @RyanWardLALeBron on Spencer Dinwiddie's 25-point performance: "He was aggressive looking for his shot. Big time." – 1:07 AM Chris Palmer @ChrisPalmerNBAExcellent late season win by the Lakers. Davis 36, LeBron 26, Dinwiddie 26, Reaves 25. Lakers shot 56% FG, 48% 3FG. Mathematically, still have a shot at the 6th seed. Realistically, not enough time to make up 3 games. – 12:51 AM Scott Agness @ScottAgnessPacers lose an offensive battle to Lakers 150-145. Four of LAL's five starters scored 25+, led by 36/16 from AD.Siakam was special, giving them a chance (36/12).It's the most points they've given up since their 12/18 loss to LAC that led to def. changes.Next: Mon. at LAC – 12:32 AM Dave McMenamin @mctenThe Lakers finish out their home-heavy start to March with a win over IND, 150-145, to go 6-3 in nine games at Crypto this month before finishing with 8 of final 11 on the road. AD 36p 16r 2s; LeBron 26p 10a; Dinwiddie 26p 5a 2b; Reaves 25p 8a 5r; Prince 14p; Cam 7p 2s. – 12:31 AM Jovan Buha @jovanbuhaFinal: Lakers 150, Pacers 145LA improves to 39-32 — the first time they've been 7 games above .500 this season. They're 2.5 games up on Golden State now. AD had 36 points and 16 rebounds. LeBron had 26/5/10. AR had 25 and 8. Spencer Dinwiddie had 26.Up next: at MIL on Tues. – 12:31 AM Jovan Buha @jovanbuhaThe Lakers have four players with 25-plus points tonight: Anthony Davis, LeBron James, Spencer Dinwiddie and Austin Reaves. – 12:29 AM Mike Trudell @LakersReporterAnother fantastic game from Anthony Davis.B2B crunch time buckets have LAL in good shape at 142-134 with 55.7 seconds left. Davis has 36 points on 15 of 21 FG's and 5 of 5 FT's, with 16 boards, 3 assists, 2 steals and 1 block.AD had 41, 20, 5 and 4 in the IST Final vs. Indy. – 12:23 AM Mike Trudell @LakersReporterIndy got as close as 4 with a big push in the 4th Q, but a LeBron 3 and Davis layup restored a cushion at 136-127 with 2:55 to play.Davis is up to 32 points with 16 boards, 3 assists, 2 steals and 1 block in 37 minutes. – 12:16 AM Mike Trudell @LakersReporterAn 11-5 Indy run with LeBron and AD resting to start the 4th Q had Darvin Ham calling time out at the 9:49 mark, LAL's lead trimmed to 11.TJ McConnell has been a tough cover off the bench with 15 points and 7 assists. – 12:02 AM Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothersPascal Siakam, enabled in part by AD clearly trying to avoid a fourth foul, is giving the Lakers fits, but it's been offset by Haliburton remaining bottled up. The lion's share of the assignment has been Dinwiddie, but Reddish has done well on a few possessions, too. AK – 12:00 AM Jovan Buha @jovanbuhaThird quarter: Lakers 116, Pacers 99AD has 26 points and 13 rebounds. LeBron has 21 points and 8 assists. Spencer Dinwiddie has 21 points (his most as a Laker) and 4 assists. Austin Reaves has 16/4/6. Taurean Prince has 12 points. 116 is a season-high through three quarters. – 11:56 PM Tony East @TonyREastLakers lead 116-99 after three quarters. LA has scored 86 points in their last two quarters. Pacers have to defend better. Running out of time.28 for Siakam. 26 for AD. – 11:56 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporterAnthony Davis is 10 for 15 from the field and 5 of 5 at the FT line, his jumper giving him 26 points and LAL a 116-97 lead.Indy got a late layup to make it a 17-point margin after 3 Q's.Lakers have scored 86 points in the 2nd + 3rd Q. – 11:55 PM Jovan Buha @jovanbuhaLeBron James manipulates the pick-and-roll matchups to drag Myles Turner away from the basket and ten Tyrese Haliburton away from his help as the nearest defender, using Haliburton's hedge as the perfect opportunity to drive right past Turner and finish with a layup. – 11:47 PM Scott Agness @ScottAgnessPacers allow 42 2Q points by the Lakers and trail 72-68 at the break. AD led all with 15/9, LeBron has 13.Pacers have done a good job scoring 19pts off LAL's turnovers. Turner (14) is one of three Pacers in double figures.Game slipped midway thru 2Q. – 11:16 PM Jovan Buha @jovanbuhaHalftime: Lakers 72, Pacers 68LA outscored Indiana 42-32 in the second quarter. AD has 15 points and 9 rebounds. LeBron has 13 points (though on 4-13 FGs). Spencer Dinwiddie has 12 points. Taurean Prince has 9 points, seven of which came in the final 3 minutes of the quarter. – 11:15 PM Tony East @TonyREastSiakam scores just before the halftime buzzer, and it's 72-68 Lakers at the break. Pacers offense was strong, but their defense was lackig in many ways. LA's size has given them fits before this season.15 for Anthony Davis. 14 for Myles Turner. – 11:15 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporterDarvin Ham let AD stay in w/3 PF's from the 5:35 mark of the 2nd, when LAL trailed by 3, to the 1:01 mark of the period. LAL went up 6 w/2:01 to play before B2B IND hoops cut it to 2.Nonetheless, sticking with AD worked out well for LAL. He's elite playing without fouling. – 11:11 PM Tony East @TonyREastThe way Anthony Davis has absorbed contact all night before contesting shots has been wildly impressive. – 11:07 PM Jovan Buha @jovanbuhaLA trailed 34-23 with 1:23 left in the first quarter. Since then, they've outscored the Pacers 18-6 to take a 41-40 lead with 9:58 left in the second quarter. This bench group — Jaxson Hayes, LeBron James, Taurean Prince, Max Christie and Spencer Dinwiddie — is playing well. – 10:46 PM Jovan Buha @jovanbuhaFirst quarter: Pacers 36, Lakers 30AD has 15 points, 8 rebounds and 1 block. Spencer Dinwiddie has 10 points, stepping up with a larger offensive role. LeBron has started slow (3 points on 1-6 FGs). Pacers' pace, speed and early offense has been difficult for LA to match. – 10:39 PM Tony East @TonyREastPacers up 36-30 after one. Goos stuff from Andrew Nembhard early, who had 9 points. Pacers were 5/10 from deep.Anthony Davis has 15 points and 8 rebounds already. – 10:38 PM Jovan Buha @jovanbuhaAnthony Davis last time he played the Pacers: 41 points and 20 rebounds.AD through one quarter tonight: 15 points and 8 rebounds. – 10:37 PM Jovan Buha @jovanbuhaLakers' starters vs. Indiana:Spencer DinwiddieAustin ReavesRui HachimuraLeBron JamesAnthony DavisRecord as starters: 0-0Dinwiddie starts in place of D'Angelo Russell (non-COVID illness). – 9:35 PM More on this storyline

LeBron James Player Prop Bets: Lakers vs. Pacers | March 24

LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers will be taking on the Indiana Pacers at 10:00 PM ET on Sunday.

James is tops on the Lakers with 25.4 points per game and 8.0 assists (eighth in league), while also averaging 7.2 rebounds.

LeBron James Prop Lines and Game Time

NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds updated Sunday at 3:39 AM ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub.

Matchup: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Indiana Pacers

Time: 10:00 PM

Date: March 24, 2024

TV Channel: NBA TV, SportsNet LA, and BSIN

NBA League Pass: The most live games plus NBA TV. Free trial

Points Prop: Over 26.5 (-125)

Rebounds Prop: Over 7.5 (-115)

Assists Prop: Over 8.5 (-105)

LeBron James vs. Indiana Pacers

James' scoring average against the Pacers (22.2) is 4.3 less than his over/under for this game.

He averages six rebounds against the Pacers — 1.5 less than his prop total (7.5).

James averages seven assists versus the Pacers, 1.5 fewer than his prop bet over/under.

Versus the Pacers, James averages 1.8 made treys per game, 0.3 more than his over/under.

LeBron James Prop Insights

James' points-per-game average in his past 10 contests (27.6) is 1.1 more than his over/under for this outing.

The 26.5-point over/under set for James on Sunday is 1.1 higher than his season scoring average.

Through 60 games this season, James has scored more than 26.5 points on 22 occasions.

His rebounding average — 7.2 per game — is 0.3 less than his prop bet in Sunday's game (7.5).

James' single-game rebound total has exceeded 7.5 in 27 of the 60 games he's played in so far this season.

James' assists average — 8.0 — is 0.5 lower than Sunday's over/under.

James has had more than 8.5 assists in 25 of 60 games.

He makes 2.2 three-pointers per game, 0.7 more than his prop bet total on Sunday (1.5).

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NBA Twitter reacts to Sixers falling to LeBron James, Lakers

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Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports

March 23, 2024 6:00 am ET

The Philadelphia 76ers gave a terrific effort while remaining undermanned on Friday, but they fell short to LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers 101-94 as they fell to 0-2 on this 4-game road West Coast road trip. The Sixers did get Tobias Harris back in the lineup, but remained without Joel Embiid, De'Anthony Melton, and Robert Covington as the challenges remain.

Philadelphia dropped to 12-24 on the season without Embiid and they weren't able to take advantage of the Miami Heat falling to the New Orleans Pelicans. The Sixers remain as the No. 8 seed in the East and the loss ended their 7-game winning streak over the Lakers.

Before Friday, the last time the Lakers beat the Sixers was March 3, 2020.

Tyrese Maxey had 27 points, Kelly Oubre Jr. had 19 points, six rebounds, and three assists, and Harris had 16 points and 13 rebounds. Mo Bamba had 11 points, seven rebounds, and three blocks.

NBA Twitter reacted to the Sixers falling to James and the Lakers on the road:

This loss tonight ended a 7-game winning streak Philly had over the Lakers. The last time the Lakers won in this series was on March 3, 2020. #Sixers

— Ky Carlin (@Ky_Carlin) March 23, 2024

Tyrese Maxey has been mostly brilliant in the second half, but his supporting cast has been brutal almost all game. Sixers appear likely to come up short yet again tonight after a brutal offensive performance

— Adam Aaronson (@SixersAdam) March 23, 2024

Lakers beat Sixers 101-94

-Tyrese Maxey: 27 pts, 3 asts-Kelly Oubre Jr: 19 pts, 6 rebs-Mo Bamba: 32 mins, 11 pts, 7 rebs-Sixers shoot 8-37 on 3PA (21.6%)-Lakers outrebound Sixers 54-42

Sixers drop to 38-32 and now sit in the 7th seed in the East

— Sean Barnard (@Sean_Barnard1) March 23, 2024

This is a hell of an effort by the Sixers. Tobias Harris still struggling offensively, but he's made two of the best defensive hustle plays I've ever seen him make. Sixers look up for a rock fight.

— Paul Hudrick (@PaulHudrick) March 23, 2024

Im so sick of the embiidless sixers

— Romp (@OfficialRomp) March 23, 2024

10:30 pm Sixers game the Friday night of the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament, if you are watching this game you are the sickest of sickos (compliment)

— Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) March 23, 2024

Maxey replaces Buddy Hield with just under 10 minutes to go. If Hield does not return to this game — Nick Nurse's typical substitution patterns indicate that is a likely outcome — he'll finish this game with 13 minutes , supplanting Thursday's game for his fewest as a Sixer.

— Adam Aaronson (@SixersAdam) March 23, 2024

Follow your favorite Philly teams on Sixers Wire and The Eagles Wire.

Lakers' LeBron James Gets Love from NBA Fans After Win vs. Tyrese Maxey, 76ers

Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images

The Los Angeles Lakers picked up a big win over the Philadelphia 76ers 101-94 Friday night behind a clutch fourth quarter from LeBron James.

James had a slow start on Friday with just nine points through three quarters—though he gave fans a show with a pair of dunks. He had some crucial buckets in the final quarter, including a clutch three and a late dunk that served as the dagger in the matchup.

James ended the night with 20 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Anthony Davis also put together a solid game with 23 points and 19 rebounds.

With the win, the Lakers improved to 38-32 on the season, though they are still fighting for a playoff spot in ninth place in the Western Conference. The Lakers sit three games behind the eighth-place Sacramento Kings, so they'll need to stay dialed in through the final month of the season if they want to move further up in the standings. If Los Angeles can't put together a big run, the Lakers will likely be facing a Play-In game to determine their playoff fate.

Paul Pierce: Steph Curry Influenced NBA More Than LeBron James, Michael Jordan

Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images

Hall of Fame forward Paul Pierce explained why he believes that Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry influenced the NBA more than LeBron James or Michael Jordan during a Thursday appearance on Undisputed.

"[Steph Curry's] influence on the game has been greater than [LeBron James, Michael Jordan, and Kobe Bryant]… I watched the Celtics game last night...The first 10 shots were three-pointers. Everybody think they can be Steph," Pierce said.

While Pierce has feuded with James in the past, dating back to their days as rivals on the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat, Curry's influence on the modern basketball landscape has been well-documented.

During Tuesday's episode of the Mind the Game Pod, James himself listed the Warriors star along with Hall of Fame point guard Allen Iverson as two of the most influential players in NBA history.

"Steph and Allen Iverson are the two biggest influential guys in our game since I've been watching and covering it," James said.

"Those two are the two most influential when you play the game, how they changed the game, and the [impact on] kids, those are two guys that you just wanted to watch every single night," James added (h/t Kurt Helin of NBC Sports).

In the year before Curry's first MVP season, NBA teams averaged 21.5 three-point attempts per game (via Basketball Reference). In the 2023-24 season, teams are currently averaging 35.0 long-range attempts every night.

While James and Jordan are arguably the two greatest players in NBA history, the impact of Curry on the current generation of players and teams cannot be understated.

Video: Lakers' LeBron James Gifts Sneakers to Duquesne Men's CBB for March Madness

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is ready to cheer on Duquesne in the NCAA tournament, and the Dukes are geared up for March Madness courtesy of the four-time NBA champion himself.

James gifted the Duquesne men's basketball team with new sneakers—his signature Nike LeBron 21s, per TMZ Sports—ahead of their tournament opener against BYU on Thursday:

The news comes as little surprise, as Duquesne's head coach Keith Dambrot was James' head coach for two years at St. Vincent-St. Mary's High School. Dambrot is retiring from coaching after the NCAA tournament.

The sneakers, which are modeled after the oyster cultivation process, are white and light blue, have Air Zoom cushioning and a glow-in-the-dark outsole.

They are also a tribute to James' daughter Zhuri "and how the proud dad protects his daughter just as a shell shelters a pearl," according to TMZ Sports.

Duquesne, a No. 11 seed, won the Atlantic 10 tournament last Sunday to secure a berth in March Madness. It's the Dukes' first tournament appearance since 1977.

NCAA Tournament 2024: Lakers' LeBron James gifts Duquesne team new sneakers ahead of matchup with BYU

The Duquesne men's basketball team is set to begin its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 47 seasons. In coordination with the special occasion, the Dukes received some spectacular gifts from Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James.

During a team meeting on Wednesday, Duquesne received new sneakers from James himself ahead of the team's matchup against BYU.

The team was clearly over the moon when the gifts arrived and were truly appreciative of the gesture from James.

James has been a big supporter of the Dukes' program in recent years, and even congratulated them following Sunday's victory in the Atlantic 10 tournament. That's because Duquesne head coach Keith Dambrot was James' coach when he played at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron before being drafted.

This will be Dambrot's final collegiate season as he plans to retire following this year's NCAA Tournament run.

Duquesne has had a very impressive season as they put together a 24-11 (10-8 Atlantic 10) record this season. The Dukes won the Atlantic 10 conference tournament this past weekend to earn an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.

The No. 11 seed Dukes will face off with the No. 6 seed Cougars on Thursday with the game set to tip off at 12:40 p.m. ET.

LeBron James sends Duquesne men's basketball team gear ahead of NCAA Tournament game

Duquesne men's basketball earns NCAA tournament bid for first time since 1977

Duquesne men's basketball earns NCAA tournament bid for first time since 1977 00:35

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — The Duquesne men's basketball team received a special gift from NBA star LeBron James.

In a video posted to the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, the Duquesne men's basketball account shared the team's reaction after James sent the squad new sneakers on Wednesday. 

"Yessir!! Best of luck guys!!," James posted on X in response to the team's post.

The care package came one day before the team's NCAA Tournament game against BYU. The No. 6 seed Cougars and No. 11 seed Dukes play on Thursday in the Round of 64 at CHI Health Center in Omaha, Nebraska. Duquesne earned a spot in the tournament after winning the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament over the weekend. 

James, a small forward for the Los Angeles Lakers, sent the shoes due to his ties to Duquesne coach Keith Dambrot, who coached James at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Ohio. When Duquesne won the conference tournament, James congratulated the team on social media. 

Thursday's NCAA Tournament game will be Duquesne's first since 1977 and could be Dambrot's last on the sidelines. Earlier this week, he said he is retiring at the end of the season. 

"I just decided before the season that this is going to be it for me, and so, at this point, this is it for me," he said on Monday. 

Dambrot has led the Dukes to a 115-95 record in his seven years with the team. In his 26 years as a head coach, he has an overall record of 528-304.

Duquesne and BYU tip off at 12:40 p.m. on Thursday. You can watch the game on truTV. 

More from CBS News

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Michael Guise

Michael Guise is a web producer for KDKA-TV. He has worked for the station since 2019.

LeBron James claims Allen Iverson and Steph Curry are even more ‘influential’ players than him

Who are the greatest players in basketball and who are the most influential are not always the same thing. Although, most of the time amazing athletes are able to influence the game and their fans completely, which is what LeBron James sees in Stephen Curry and Allen Iverson. 

According to the all-time NBA scoring leader, both superstars changed the sport forever and even have been even more influential than he has. The Lakers forward discussed the topic this week on his new podcast with J.J Redick called Mind the Game.

The topic surfaced when Redick said that when he entered the NBA, coaches would take their starters out of the game if there was a 19-point lead at the beginning of the fourth quarter, which is something uncommon in today's basketball. LeBron believed he knew the reason why.

"I believe in '08/09, whenever that little light-skinned f***** came in the league, he changed that whole narrative. He single-handedly changed the 'no lead is safe.' It's like Pat Mahomes right now," he said about the Golden State star's arrival to the league.

One of the main reasons why James is convinced that Iverson and Curry have such influence, is due to the fact that they are very relatable. "When it comes to influence since I've been watching the game… Steph and Allen Iverson are the two biggest influential guys in our game since I've been watching and covering it.

"One, they're 6'3″/6'4," [laughter], if you want to look on the back of the basketball card, you know you always a lot taller on the back of the back of the basketball card. Allen Iverson and Steph., they were just so relatable, and kids felt like they could be them," he explained.

According to the 39-year-old, both player's size never prevented them from dominating any player who was in front of them. "They were guys that was not always counted on, they were small in stature, and they just defied the odds," he added.

LeBron and Redick's new podcast was a complete hit as Mind the Game released their first show this week

Watching the oldest athlete in the league go at it with J.J. Redick, one of the most opinionated former players in the NBA world, was everything you'd expect and more. The entire podcast is worth checking out, as both hosts love talking about the game and seem to have fun while at it.

While discussing Steph and Allen's influence, the Lakers star insisted that kids don't necessarily play with their friends in the playground or their driveway and see themselves as LeBron or Kevin Durant. It's like expecting kids to envision themselves as Victor Wembanyama, which seems rather improbable.

He insists that this is the reason why people became obsessed with watching them play every night. "So you got AI, who's like unbelievable crossover, cornrows, arm sleeve — everyone wears an arm sleeve now because Allen Iverson — and he's going into trenches, laying it up over bigs, whatever the case may be. And now you have Steph, who's shooting over the Empire State Building.

"Those two are the two most influential when you play the game, how they changed the game, and the [impact on] kids, those are two guys that you just wanted to watch every single night," he concluded.

Highlights from debut episode of LeBron James' new podcast

When people talk about the superstars who have impacted basketball the most, people will mention names such as Bryant, Michael Jordan, and Julius Erving. But in the current era, an argument could be made that Stephen Curry has been hugely influential.

During a recent era, Allen Iverson had a cult following, not so much for the way he played, but for his immense chutzpah and his "keep it real" ethos.

James touched on that subject during the debut episode of "Mind the Game."

"You can't do that anymore," James said when Redick talked about how a 19-point lead going into the fourth quarter was considered safe in the late 2000s. "You know why? Because I believe in '08-'09 or whenever that little light-skinned [expletive] (Curry) came in the league, that's in Golden State, he changed that whole narrative. He single-handedly changed the 'no lead is safe.'

"… When it comes to influence, since I've been watching the game, the most influence on the game – and obviously we know what Mike (Jordan) did for the game – Steph and Allen Iverson are the two biggest influential guys in our game since I've been watching and covering it. Allen Iverson and Steph, they were just so relatable and kids felt like they could be them. They were guys that was not always counted on, they were small in stature, and they just defied the odds."

NBA superstar Lebron James and 8 other celebrities with a taste for Fall River fashion

Every king needs his royal garments.

When basketball superstar Lebron James made history as the first NBA player to score 40,000 career points, he carried a piece of Fall River with him — a Vanson Leathers jacket designed with luxury brand Aimé Leon Dore.

On March 2, the NBA legend was photographed strolling into Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles before his 40,000-point game wearing the raffia leather jacket, made by Vanson in Fall River.

Vanson has made high-end motorcycle leathers since 1974, with their home on Broadway in Fall River since 1987. Their gear is suitable for everything from professional racing to looking extremely cool as hell.

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James recently scored his 40,000th career point, and before the big game wore a Vanson Leathers jacket made in Fall River.

King James' ALD Vanson jacket is currently out of stock in black — but if you don't mind the light tan version, it's $2,250.

James is far from the only celeb photographed wearing Vanson products. Here are a handful of others:

Making it here: Check out these 11 products created in Fall River

Alicia Keys

The R&B singer-songwriter and pianist has a Vanson Star Jacket — so named because of the huge competition red star on the back. One of these will set you back $1,000.

Ralph Lauren

The fashion designer and style icon also knew coolness when he saw it, and he saw it in a Vanson Star.

LL Cool J

Hip-hop artist and actor LL Cool J had a Vanson Star himself, but in black and white.

Usher

The R&B singer and dancer was photographed wearing a Vanson Bones flat-track motorcycle jacket — currently going for $1,250.

Axl Rose

The Guns N' Roses frontman had a Vanson Bones jacket himself.

Pharrell Williams

The record producer and singer had a Vanson Bones in reverse colors.

Jason Momoa

The "Aquaman" and "Game of Thrones" star partnered with Harley-Davidson to design an iconic leather jacket crafted by Vanson. It was limited in production and only sold through the Harley-Davidson Museum, but you can find one on eBay for $1,500.

Joey Ramone

Black leather jackets were key to the style of New York punk legends the Ramones. Singer Joey Ramone wore a Vanson Rock and Roll jacket — currently available for $800.

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Vanson Leathers jackets: Stars who were the Fall River made designs

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‘So You Think You Can Dance’ 18 episode 3 recap: In ‘Auditions: Day Three,’ one hopeful was like ‘the LeBron James of dance’

"So You Think You Can Dance" season 18 ended the first stage of the competition on Monday night, March 18, with the last dance hopefuls looking for a spot in the choreography round. So far the bar has been set pretty high by standout performances from dancers representing a variety of dance styles, shapes, sizes and ability levels. So who stood out among the last crop of contestants? Did the show save the best for last?

"We've put 25 people through," said judge Allison Holker at the start of the show. She singled out contemporary dancer Braylon Browner and gymnast Dakayla Wilson as standouts from the first two days of auditions. Comfort Fedoke agreed that Wilson is capable of anything a professional choreographer could throw at her. Maksim Chmerkovskiy was especially impressed by contemporary dancer Easton Magliarditi. But "there's so many other things outside of dance that we're also looking at."

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SEE'So You Think You Can Dance' season 18 premiere recap: What went down during 'Auditions: Day One'? [Live Blog]

The first audition we saw on day three was by Ali Deucher, from Orem, Utah (also Holker's hometown). In her clip package she told us about dancing in Las Vegas. She spent the last year doing Katy Perry's show. On a darker note, her dad ended up going to prison for seven years for perpetrating a Ponzi scheme. She was only 16-years-old when that happened, so dealing with the fallout was tough. Dance was her "safe space," so she's on "SYTYCD" to show people you can find your own strength even when others don't treat you kindly.

Her contemporary routine to Celine Dion's "Ashes" got a standing ovation from the judges, which wasn't too surprising: when you get a clip package, you've probably made it through to the next round. Holker thought it was "beautiful," and she was "so moved by that." Fedoke said, "You were testifying everything you needed on the floor." She exuded passion. Chmerkovskiy thought she was exactly the kind of dancer choreographers look for. All the judges agreed to send her through to the next round.

Jaylin Sanders started dancing when he was six. His dad taught him how to pop and wave, and then in LA he found a mentor in Missy Prissy, the queen of krump. Fedoke thought he had a "great foundation" of skills. Chmerkovskiy agreed, but now that he's got the first-performance jitters out of the way there's more space he could fill. Holker wants to see more of his abilities in the choreography round, so it was an "absolute yes" from her. Another yes from Chmerkovskiy. And Fedoke made it unanimous.

SEE'So You Think You Can Dance' 18 episode 2 recap: Who were the standout performers during 'Auditions: Day Two'? [LIVE BLOG]

Mariyah Hawkins just turned 21. She's another contestant in the competition who previously auditioned for "So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation" when she was a child. She was a self-conscious kid, unkind to herself, and now she's looking to heal. The judges disagreed on her performance, though. Chmerkovskiy wanted to see more of her personality in her routine. It looked to him like she was doing work. But Holker felt the way Hawkins spoke was the way she danced. Fedoke was with Holker, calling Hawkins "unique" with her Afrobeat touches. It was a yes from all three judges, however. "I never said it was a no, by the way," Chmerkovskiy pointed out. But she's going to have to step it up moving forward.

Cipher Goings arrived with a little click in his step. Sounds like we've got a tapper! He started at his dance studio at age seven, and it's been 15 years. "I cannot imagine a life without dance," he said. It helped keep him out of trouble. So he wants to show his students they can do whatever they put their minds to. "Your personality lights up the dance floor," Holker said. "Your musicality is there, but it feels like the movement was being forced onto us." Chmerkovskiy thought it took him until halfway through to settle into his routine. Fedoke told him to focus more on the articulation of his feet. So mixed reviews all around. Chmerkovskiy gave him a no. Fedoke said yes. But Holker thought he needed more work on his craft, so it was a no from her as well. Surprised he didn't go through. He got a clip package and everything, and it turned out to be the only tap routine we'd see during auditions.

Contemporary performer Anthony Curley wanted to quit a lot of times along the way, but the encouragement of his mother kept him going. Another standing ovation from the three judges, so there was no doubt about this routine. "I'm still goose-bumping," Chmerkovskiy told him. "You're the LeBron James of dance!" Holker thought the height he got in his jumps was especially outstanding. Fedoke thought it was a "captivating" number. Yep, yeses all around.

Lihi Catriel auditioned with a jazz funk routine. She was born in Israel, moved to the US when she was just eight months old. She was on tour on October 7, which she described as the worst day of her life. But "to be able to represent my people through it all is the biggest blessing." Chmerkovskiy liked her performance, thought it was full of personality, but was curious about the range of her skillset. She assured him she has training in all styles. Fedoke thought Catriel showed "joy and peace" within her dance. Holker liked it too, but it didn't seem like she thought Catriel made enough of an impression. Ultimately, Catriel does get yeses from all the judges, but Holker wants more from her in the future than she delivered.

Julian Carmolinga grew up in Chicago around a lot of gang violence. His father was a gang member, so he wants to help the next generation escape their own difficult circumstances. Chmerkovskiy loved his hip-hop/contemporary fusion routine, but Fedoke noted that there wasn't really any hip-hop in the fusion. Holker could feel his pain when he danced, but he also made it light. Holker was a pretty enthusiastic yes. Chmerkovskiy was also "inclined to say yes." Fedoke was the most hesitant of the three, but she said yes too.

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Next we got a drag performance from Juicy Love Dion, who hails from Miami, Florida. This show was always a childhood dream for him. Growing up, his dad never let him be feminine. He was taught to hide it. But he brought the femininity and sparkle and acrobatics (in heels!) to his performance, which elicited yet another standing ovation from the panel. Fedoke thought it was "unexpected" and had her like "wow." Holker loved the character and personality of the dance, it was "the full package." Chmerkovskiy called it a "phenomenal performance." A yes from him. A yes from Fedoke. And with a flip of her hair, a yes from Holker.

That left one spot for the choreography round, and we got a montage of dances before the final routine of the day, a 30-year-old pro named Victor Ramos who has been at it for 23 years. Since 30 is the upper age limit for "SYTYCD," this was his last chance to be a contestant on the show. During the pandemic he lost a job and a relationship he loved, but he got the day's last standing ovation from Chmerkovskiy, Holker and Fedoke. Holker said it was "so well done," especially after he got so vulnerable telling the judges his story. Chmerkovskiy asks him, though, if he's still willing to learn and "take more in" at 30. Ramos says yes, and so do the three judges.

"With that the season 18 auditions come to an end," said host Cat Deeley. "But for 35 dancers, it's just the first step on a long, career-defining road to the finals."

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LeBron James And J.J. Redick Are Starting A Basketball-Focused Podcast Together

J.J. Redick has quickly climbed the ladder in the sports media world, as he now occupies a seat on ESPN's lead NBA commentary team with Mike Breen and Doris Burke, and his podcast, The Old Man and the Three, is incredibly popular and regularly lands some of the biggest names in the NBA as guests.

Redick's next venture may just be his biggest though, as he's adding a second weekly podcast to his schedule with a pretty notable co-host: LeBron James. The podcast, called Mind the Game, will be co-produced by LeBron and Redick's respective production companies and promises focus on the game of basketball and let the two dive into how they think about the game, rather than arguing about GOAT status or topics you'd see on First Take, via Andrew Marchand of The Athletic.

"It's meant to be a very free-flowing conversation about the sport and about the game," Redick said in a phone interview. "If you look at it in a very simplistic way, it's just about basketball."

"I'm really proud of what we've done to innovate in sports media," James said in a statement to The Athletic. "… When I do a project, the only thing I think about is whether me and my friends would watch it. That is definitely the case with 'Mind the Game.' Everything doesn't need to be designed for internet culture and clicks."

The first clip he saw of the podcast shows the two breaking down how to defend a pick-the-picker out of bounds play while drinking a glass of wine, and it figures to be that kind of laid back conversation about the finer points of the game, with guests occasionally popping in to offer their thoughts on the tactical side of the game.

Redick has long wanted to focus more on that, but has lamented that his efforts in doing so don't draw the same level of attention as rants about Doc Rivers or debates over player rankings. Now, we'll see if the appetite for that kind of content increases with LeBron James on board, and it could be a very good thing for giving fans a chance to hear from one of the greatest basketball minds to every play the game.

Lakers' LeBron James, D'Lo Russell Talk Loss of Anthony Davis to Injury vs. Warriors

Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images

Los Angeles Lakers stars LeBron James and D'Angelo Russell pointed to Anthony Davis' eye injury as a contributing factor behind Saturday's 128-121 loss to the Golden State Warriors.

Davis played just 12 minutes after getting inadvertently hit in the eye by Warriors forward Trayce Jackson-Davis.

"When you've been preparing for a couple of days with our prep and you lose a key component to your team in one quarter, we tried to pick it up, but, obviously, there's some things we can't do without AD," James told reporters of Davis' absence.

Russell concurred, saying L.A. is "not accustomed to playing without" the nine-time All-Star.

"He's played almost every game this year, right? So that's something that is unfamiliar for us," he said. "But it's no excuse. Jaxson played his ass off. Everybody else that came in stepped up to the plate. But that's a tough team, well-coached team. So it's not going to be easy."

ESPN's Dave McMenamin reported Davis' left eye was swollen shut and his status for Monday's matchup with the Atlanta Hawks is unclear.

It's true the 6'10" forward has stayed healthy this year. He has appeared in all but four of the Lakers' 68 games while averaging a team-high 35.6 minutes per contest.

Injuries have been a consistent theme across Davis' Los Angeles tenure and his career more broadly, though. His 64 games are already his most played since his 2019 trade to L.A.

Saying the Lakers are "unfamiliar" with a Davis-less lineup is true in a sense, and having a player get hit in the eye is a freak accident you can't plan for. However, durability continues to be a lingering concern with the 31-year-old.

If nothing else, Saturday's defeat reinforced how dependent Los Angeles is on its two best players, Davis and James. With the team already in 10th place, losing either at the wrong time could be a fatal blow to the franchise's hope of simply qualifying for the playoffs.

Lakers' LeBron James Congratulates Former HS Coach on Duquesne's NCAA Tournament Bid

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James took some time to congratulate the Duquesne men's basketball team for earning a 57-51 victory over VCU to win the Atlantic 10 tournament on Sunday.

Although he skipped college to declare for the NBA draft back in 2003, James shares a special connection with Dukes head coach Keith Dambrot. Dambrot coached the four-time MVP during his teenage days at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School. Duquesne associate head coach Dru Joyce III was also James' high school teammate.

Dambrot previously served as the head coach of Akron, leading the program to a record of 305-139 before he joined the Dukes ahead of the 2017-18 season. After bouncing back from a rough 6-24 record in 2022, Duquesne has surpassed 20 wins in each of the past two seasons.

James has given shoutouts to his former coach in the past, congratulating Dambrot when he reached 500 career wins in Feb. 2023.

"Coach D, my guy, oh my goodness," said James (h/t Adam Bittner of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette). "Five hundred? Five hundred wins is ridiculous. Man oh man. Never cease to amaze me. I want to congratulate you on an incredible feat and many more wins coming in the near future. Enjoy this moment, you deserve it, love you, and you're the best."

Now, the Dukes will be headed to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1977.

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LeBron James Wears 'OJ Gloves' to Drive Around LA at 1 a.m. After Loss, Cracks Up Internet

I don't think LeBron James realizes how hilarious he is. The King is quite literally one of the most amusing athletes in sports right now, and he does it without even trying.

Wednesday night, following a tough Los Angeles Lakers' loss 120-107 loss to the Sacramento Kings, James decided not to show his frustration about the game in a post-game press conference, but on his Instagram story.

In the video, James can be seen driving on the highway while listening to "Lose Control" by Silk.

It's good to see that LeBron James has good taste in R&B music.

While it seems that Bron was simply enjoying a late-night drive, fans on social media had fun with the post and decided to poke fun at it.

Some of them even noticed the leather driving glove James was sporting during his late-night ride.

Again, this post in itself is harmless, but it's sometimes amusing to see that some of the biggest professional athletes in the world still have moments where they act just like the rest of us.

I'm sure we've all had those nights where we're not happy with the way things are going in our lives, so we simply take a drive at night to take our minds off of things.

The same could go for LeBron, as the Lakers are holding on to a play-in spot and are currently 9th in the loaded Western Conference. Not to mention, the Lakers have lost eight of their last 10 previous meetings against the Kings, it seems that they have their number.

Unlike a couple of years ago, this LeBron-led team is not seeking to win an NBA Championship.They're just fighting to make the playoffs. It seems that could be taking a toll on James' mental, as he's not used to losing like this.

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“No LeBron Please Don’t Do It”: LeBron James Gets Called Out for Driving Around California at 1 AM

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 06: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half at Crypto.com Arena on March 06, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Lakers star LeBron James is always the center of attention in the NBA world. His actions and words often receive the most reactions from the people in the community. Lately, Bron uploaded a video online showing him pulling off some wild antics on a California street in the dead of night.

The video is sparking major buzz in the NBA community as fans are filling up the comments with their takes on what's happening. A lot of them are also seen criticizing the Lakers star for something he did recently.

Also Read: "You're Not Gonna Please Everybody," Stephen Curry Considers Running for US President After Retiring From the NBA

LeBron James drives around California at 1 AM

LeBron James recently made some bad choices. Late Thursday night, he uploaded videos to his Instagram story that showed him driving in California around 1 am. These videos caused a stir because using your phone while driving is dangerous and irresponsible, especially for someone like LeBron, whom many look up to.

Bron was wearing fashionable gloves and was vibing to the music playing in his car. King James had a subpar performance in the game against the Kings. He scored 18 points and collected 13 rebounds in his team's 120-107 loss. Bron might have thought the idea of posting himself driving around town at 1 am might be cool but he forgot that he has a huge following. Most of his followers are young, and it might have a bad influence on them.

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NBA Twitter reacts to LeBron' driving video

NBA Twitter did not take LeBron's story very lightly. They called out the Lakers star and reminded him of his social responsibility. Some fans also called out his recent actions that have sparked cheating rumors. One fan commented, "No LeBron please don't do it" requesting LeBron to stop his cringeworthy acts that may influence the youth.

Another fan commented, "LeBron never gonna hear the end of this. Savannah got bro in hell," along with two photos. One of King James with Lakers owner Jeanie Buss and another of Bron with his wife Savannah James. The fan highlighted the recent incident where Jeanie Buss was seen getting a little too touchy with Bron and it caused cheating rumors to start.

What do you think of LeBron James driving around California at 1 am? What do you think of the reaction of the fans? We are eager to know your thoughts, so drop down in the comments and let us know.

Also Read: LeBron James Gets Trolled After Video With Jeanie Buss Goes Viral: "Savanah Gotta Crash Out Bro"