Skip to main content

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.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

NBA Monday Morning Shootaround: LeBron James, The Hunger Games, and More - Bleacher Report

Welcome to the "Monday Morning Shootaround," Bleacher Report's recap of the weekend that was in the NBA. Along with getting you caught up on the weekend’s playoff action, we’ll give you a sneak preview of what could potentially be the greatest basketball book of all time, show you the best 70-year-old playground superstar ever, and tell you about a young star that just might choose religion over the fame and fortune of the NBA. The Opening Tip * ABC cameras caught LeBron James reading The Hunger Games before the Miami Heat played the Indiana Pacers on Sunday. Shortly thereafter, the Miami Heat small forward proceeded to go into full Katniss Everdeen mode to the tune of 40 points, 18 rebounds and nine assists as the Heat pulled out a hard-fought 101-93 victory. After a slow start, Heat guard Dwyane Wade finished with 30 points, nine rebounds and six assists of his own. But Sunday afternoon was all about James and his gaudy numbers, virtually all of which we...
Post a Comment
Read more

Breaking Down the Differences Between LeBron James and Kevin Durant - Bleacher Report

LeBron James and Kevin Durant are being coined as "the future of the NBA 's next generation." That is certainly true, but they aren't exactly on the same level. LeBron and Durant are two different players, who bring varying skills to different facets of the game. Instead of just comparing them in a "who's the best" fashion, let's take a minute and break down which player excels in each and every facet of the game of basketball. Ahead is a breakdown of the differences that exist between LeBron and Durant.  Scoring Ronald Martinez/Getty Images LeBron 2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 27.1 points, 53.1 FG%, 36.3 3P%, 77.1 FT% Durant 2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 28.0 points, 49.6 FG%, 38.7 3P%, 86.0 FT% Scoring is what Kevin Durant does. It's not only his specialty, it's also what makes him such a dangerous and elite player. With that being said, LeBron isn't exactly a slouch on the offensive side of the...
Post a Comment
Read more

Luka Dončić joins LeBron James, Magic Johnson and Jerry West as only Lakers to post 30 points and 15 assists in a game

LeBron James joined a club of one on Tuesday , while Luka Dončić joined a club of four. With 30 points and a Lakers career-high 15 assists, Luka Dončić became only the fourth player in Lakers history to post those totals in a single game in a 136-115 win over the New Orleans Pelicans. The other three: James, Magic Johnson and Jerry West. We'll call that a solid group. That performance included a stretch of three straight 3-pointers to set the tone in the first quarter. It was once again the LeBron and Dončić (LeBrončić?) show, as Dončić's co-star posted 34 points on 10-of-18 shooting, eight rebounds and six assists. Center Jaxson Hayes also had one of the best games of his Lakers career, scoring 19 points on a perfect 8-of-8 shooting plus 10 rebounds. Dončić was two points away from tying his Lakers career high in points as well, and likely would have gotten it had L.A. not taken its foot off the gas in the fourth quarter. After a back-and-forth first half in which the P...
Post a Comment
Read more