Bronny ending college career with $800,000 decline, LeBron James supporting son through rough stretch

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, left, poses with his son Bronny after Sierra Canyon defeated Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary in a high school basketball game Dec. 14, 2019, in Columbus, Ohio. Bronny James will enter the NBA draft after one season at Southern California that was shortened by his recovery from cardiac arrest. The 19-year-old son of LeBron James announced Friday, April 5, 2024, on his Instagram account that he also plans to retain his college eligibility and will enter the transfer portal. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete, File)

Bronny James has been in the spotlight since he was a little kid and things have not changed now that he is in college. In 2023 he committed to the University of Southern California coming out from Sierra Canyon High School. His stats where good enough to make doubters into believers.

The son of LeBron James averaged 13.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.8 steals per game, something that also helped increase his NIL (name, image and likeness) value.

At that point, his valuation was reported to be near $5.9 million, all thanks to many lucrative deals with worldwide known brands such as Nike and Beats by Dre. Everything appeared to be on its way to increasing even more than that value, but a health matter prevented that from happening.

On July 24, 2023, Bronny suffered a cardiac arrest while practicing with his USC teammates at the Galen Center in Los Angeles. He was away from basketball for five months and his NIL value was not affected much at the time, however that changed quickly.

When he rejoined the team in December, the numbers changed, and it had a lot to do with what happened on the court. Bronny James played in 25 games and averaged only 4.8 points per game with 2.1 assists and 2.8 rebounds just over 19 minutes. The team didnt qualified to the NCAA Tournament and his NIL value went down from $4.7 million to $4.5 million.

After Bronnys decision to enter the transfer portal but also enter de NBA Draft, he has received negative comments for using the NCAA as a fallback plan in case thing dont workout. LeBron James has been vocal about his son and his decisions.

"Can y'all please just let the kid be a kid and enjoy college basketball... The work and results will ultimately do the talking no matter what he decides to do. If y'all don't know he doesn't care what a mock draft says, he just WORKS! Earned Not Given!," LeBron wrote on social media.

By the end of the last season, Bronny James lost $0.8 million, but if his dads wish comes true and the Los Angeles Lakers end up drafting him and they can play together for at least one year, the young James can increase his NIL quick.

Cameras Caught LeBron James Having On-Court Meltdown in Front of Darvin Ham vs. Nuggets

The Los Angeles Lakers' Game 4 win over the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night wasn't without drama.

Usually, that drama takes the form of the Lakers blowing a double-digit lead as they have for the last three consecutive series matchups against the Nuggets. Yet Game 4 was different, not only because the Lakers held onto their lead for the win, but because Los Angeles star LeBron James had one of his biggest on-court blowups of the year.

Early in the fourth quarter with the Lakers up 15, James was visibly outraged after the Lakers chose not to challenge an out-of-bounds call. The officials ruled that James touched the ball last, though slow-motion replays revealed that the ball indeed went off of Nuggets' Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

James unsuccessfully pleaded with his coaches to challenge the call and was seen furiously shouting at the Lakers bench and even stomping on the court.

LeBron just before that last timeout... pic.twitter.com/08uXdXsJgL

— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) April 28, 2024

Fans were concerned, mostly for Lakers coach Darvin Ham's job security. 

Darvin Ham get ready to learn Chinese buddy

— 🧊‎ ᅠ (@OGICEY) April 28, 2024

Darvin Ham cooked after this season 😂 Bron fed up lol

— Mell Biv DeVoe (@MelGoCrazy1) April 28, 2024

He's losin it man pic.twitter.com/P2fPiJnObo

— mélomanic🍶 (@thetaylerholmes) April 28, 2024

That's rare I can't think of the last time Bron openly went off on his coach like that, if ever.

— NBA Shake (@ShakeZoula) April 28, 2024

Why he freaking out?? I thought he said it's ONLY basketball.!

— Hayden Wheatley (@WheatleyHayden) April 28, 2024

The missed challenge opportunity ultimately proved inconsequential as the Lakers rolled to a 119-108 victory to avoid a first-round postseason exit. James recorded his 19th career 30-point game when facing elimination, the most all-time. Game 5 of the series is on Monday at Ball Arena.

LeBron scores 30 and the Lakers avoid 1st-round elimination with a 119-108 win over champion Nuggets

By GREG BEACHAMAP Sports Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Lakers finally cracked the Denver Nuggets' mastery of this rivalry and extended their playoff lives for at least another game.

To absolutely nobody's surprise, LeBron James led the way.

James scored 30 points, Anthony Davis added 25 points and 23 rebounds, and the Lakers avoided postseason elimination with a 119-108 victory over Denver in Game 4 of their first-round series Saturday night.

D'Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves scored 21 points apiece for the seventh-seeded Lakers, who snapped their 11-game losing streak against the defending NBA champions with their first win over the Nuggets since December 2022.

A series with clear patterns and rhythms finally changed in the Lakers' favor. For the fourth straight game, Los Angeles took a double-digit lead before the Nuggets rallied in the second half behind Nikola Jokic.

But for the first time in this series, the Lakers didn't wilt under the defending champions' pressure. The 39-year-old James scored 14 points in the fourth quarter on 6-of-8 shooting, again carrying the Lakers late in his 21st NBA season.

Game 5 is Monday night in Denver.

"We've given ourselves another lifeline, and it's a one-game series for us," James said. "Monday's game is the most important game of the season for us, and we understand that."

Denver swept Los Angeles out of the Western Conference finals last season, but the current Lakers responded to this 0-3 deficit with a performance more worthy of a team that rolled into the postseason with 12 wins in 15 games.

"We get another opportunity to go play one more game, and if we win, come back and play another one and keep moving from there," Reaves said. "Odds aren't stacked in our favor, but anytime we can keep ourselves floating above water and give ourselves an opportunity to do something special, we're up for the challenge."

Jokic had 33 points, 14 rebounds and 14 assists for his 18th career triple-double and second in this series, but the two-time MVP and his teammates couldn't reassert their usual late-game dominance over the Lakers.

The Lakers' 19-point lead with just over six minutes left dwindled to 113-106 on Jokic's three-point play with 1:25 to play, but Reaves hit a short jumper before adding four free throws in the final minute.

Denver ultimately couldn't overcome yet another slow offensive start in a series full of them.

"Of course we want to (start faster), but I learned in horse racing, it's not how you start, it's how you finish," Jokic said. "We didn't finish today really well, so hopefully we can do a better job. But yes, we want to be up and control the game, but it seems like that didn't happen to us."

Michael Porter Jr. had 27 points and 11 rebounds for Denver, and Jamal Murray scored 22 points while going 0 for 4 on 3-point attempts. Aaron Gordon had just seven points for the Nuggets after putting up 29 in Game 3 during the highest-scoring playoff game of his career — but offense wasn't the Nuggets' problem, according to coach Michael Malone.

"The paint (defense) was a joke," Malone said after his team allowed a whopping 72 points in the paint.

"Every huddle, I sounded like a broken record tonight," Malone added. "Every huddle was, 'Paint, paint, paint.' (In) Game 3, they had 70 and we found a way to win. Tonight, they had 72. That's an incredible number. … I just didn't think we had the requisite physicality or urgency. This did not seem like a closeout game."

The second-seeded Nuggets also lost a closeout game in last season's first round while up 3-0 on Minnesota, but Denver won that series in five games and lost only three more times on the way to its first title.

While Jokic was prolific and James seized the spotlight late, Davis was outstanding for the fourth straight game. His 23 rebounds matched his career playoff high, and he even shared the Lakers' team lead with six assists.

"It's tough to get swept," Davis said. "Nobody wants that feeling, especially going to the summer. You've got to live with that feeling for the rest of the summer. So we didn't really talk about it. We know what's at stake. Nobody wants that feeling in your mouth for the rest of the summer. The way we played tonight is the way we have to play the rest of the series."

The Lakers showed no quit in their dire circumstances in Game 4, pounding the ball inside for 44 points in the paint during the first half and taking their fourth halftime lead of the series.

The Lakers stretched their advantage to 15 points in the third quarter and kept building until the final minutes, when Jokic and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope sparked a Nuggets rally.

"They were really pushing the pace," Jokic said. "They had open layups. They were destroying us in the paint. We couldn't make a shot. They couldn't make a shot either (at times), but it seems like that affected our defense a lot. That's a great team."

Reggie Jackson played nine minutes for Denver despite spraining his ankle in the second half of Game 3.

Caleb Williams, the Heisman Trophy-winning former USC quarterback and the No. 1 overall pick in this weekend's NFL draft by the Chicago Bears, watched the game from courtside.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Cowboys' Tyler Guyton Compares Himself to LeBron James When Talking Basketball Skills

Justin Casterline/Getty Images

It's safe to say Dallas Cowboys' first-round pick Tyler Guyton is confident in his basketball ability.

Guyton met with local media for the first time Friday and was asked about his talents on the hardwood. Guyton then said that he has a similar game to Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James.

Guyton notably is the son of a college basketball player and did not join the football team until his junior year of high school. Before that, basketball was his primary sport.

Guyton was also notably a youth football quarterback and played defense in high school. He did not transition into being an offensive lineman until he transferred to Oklahoma in 2022.

While he lacks in experience at the position, he makes up for it with explosivity. He has a 6'7", 322-pound frame and could be moved to left tackle despite having never player the position. He also joins a franchise with experience developing lineman into strong players, with Tyron Smith, Zack Martin and Travis Frederick serving as recent examples of strongly developed players.

He may need some time to develop, but with the confidence he showed in his comparison to James, he should have a chance to become a solid player for the Cowboys.

NBA Champion Makes Bold Claim About LeBron James

© Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

NBA Champion Kendrick Perkins sent out a post on X during Thursday's game.

On Thursday evening, the Los Angeles Lakers hosted the Denver Nuggets for Game 3 of ther first-round playoff series.

The Nuggets won by a score of 112-105, so they now have a 3-0 lead in the series.

During the game, NBA Champion Kendrick Perkins sent out a bold post on X.

Via Perkins: "Unless Jokic has an early retirement... Lebron will never win another title"

Unless Jokic has an early retirement... Lebron will never win another title

— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) April 26, 2024

The Lakers were swept by the Nuggets in the 2023 Western Conference Finals and have lost their last 11 matchups.

Apr 25, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15)

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

James finished the night with 26 points, six rebounds, nine assists, two steals and one block while shooting 12/20 from the field and 1/6 from the three-point range in 42 minutes of playing time.

Meanwhile, Jokic had 24 points, 15 rebounds, nine assists and one steal while shooting 9/13 from the field and 0/1 from the three-point range in 39 minutes.

Final pic.twitter.com/3Uzdykgv6A

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) April 26, 2024

James is 39 but is still among the best players in the league (he is in his first 21st season).

That said, the Lakers have been unable to look like true contenders since winning the 2020 NBA Championship over the Miami Heat.

They lost in the first round of the 2021 playoffs and missed the postseason in 2022.

This summer, James has the ability to opt out of his contract and become a free agent.

Spinnin' 🌪️ pic.twitter.com/PkLT4DqK83

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) April 26, 2024

Game 4 will be on Saturday evening (also in Los Angeles).

Whoever wins the series will face off against either the Phoenix Suns or Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round.

Video: LeBron James, Anthony Davis React to Lakers Facing Elimination vs. Nuggets

Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images

The Los Angeles Lakers, yet again, have fallen into an 0-3 playoff deficit against the Denver Nuggets, this time in the first round of the NBA playoffs.

A year ago, the Nuggets swept them in the Western Conference Finals and have now bested the Lakers 11 straight times. But LeBron James is trying to keep hope.

"You just take it one game at a time, at this point," he told reporters when asked if the Lakers believe they could become the first team in NBA history to ever pull off the reverse-sweep (5:52 mark). "You lose, you go home, so you come out with the mindset, let's get one. Force a Game 5, and then we go from there. As long as you still have life, then you always have belief. I just think you play until the wheels fall off. That's what it's always about, for me."

"Our focus, and our mental right now, is trying to get one," Anthony Davis added. "Trying to get a game on Saturday and then go from there. We can't focus on [the 11-game losing streak to Denver], our focus is on trying to get better. From tonight, learn from our mistakes and try to get a win on Saturday."

It's do or die time for these Lakers, who now have the daunting task of winning four straight games against the defending champions. It isn't impossible, but it sure feels incredibly improbable.

USC's Bronny James, son of Lakers star LeBron James, enters transfer portal and declares for NBA Draft

USC freshman Bronny James, the son of NBA superstar LeBron James, is entering the NBA Draft and the transfer portal, he announced earlier this month on Instagram. The former four-star recruit played in 25 games for the Trojans after making his college debut on Dec. 10 against Long Beach State less than five months after going into cardiac arrest during a summer workout at USC. James made six starts during the 2023-24 season and averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists. 

"I've had a year with some ups and downs but all added to growth for me as a man, student and athlete," James wrote. "I've made the decision to enter the NBA Draft while maintaining my college eligibility, and will also be entering the NCAA transfer portal. Thank you to USC for an amazing freshman year, and as always thankful for my family, friends, doctors, athletic trainers and fans for their support."

James missed USC's overseas trip to Greece and Croatia for a three-game summer tour and was absent from the start of fall workouts because of the cardiac arrest incident. After his minute restriction was lifted in January, James showcased his potential as both a playmaker and defender in an expanded role. 

James' future came into question earlier this week when rumors surfaced that the 19-year-old would enter the transfer portal and explore his college options.

"I don't know where it came from," LeBron James said after the Lakers beat the Raptors 128-111 in Toronto. "But at the end of the day, Bronny is his own man. He has some tough decisions to make. When he's ready to make those decisions, he'll let us all know. But as his family, we're going to support whatever he does."

Bronny James' NBA Draft projection

James' draft stock is considered a mystery. His overall stats weren't great this season, but that won't prevent a respective team from drafting him. The 2024 NBA Draft class is a mystery because it's one of the weaker draft classes at the top in nearly a decade. That could ultimately benefit James and convince him to declare for the draft if a team wants to take a swing on a prospect with upside. 

James has the tools to be a successful player at the next level. He's a high-motor defender with a playmaking upside. James also has an incredible basketball IQ like his father. Something that James will have to improve on at the next level is his 3-point shooting. James connected on only 26.7% from distance on 2.4 attempts per night.

In the 2024 NBA Draft Prospect Rankings from CBS Sports, James isn't currently ranked, and he wasn't in any first-round mocks. James likely will drop to the second round, but he should get an opportunity at the next level no matter what — which could be on a regular contract or a two-way deal.

Entering the NBA Draft while maintaining college eligibility is common among college prospects who aren't entirely sure about where they project in the draft process. In this case, Bronny projects as a potential second-round pick, so keeping his options open by entering the transfer portal will allow him to go through the draft process, work out for NBA teams, and get feedback before making a final decision. James will have until May 29 — the withdrawal deadline set by the NCAA — to decide to remain in the draft or return for his sophomore season. The NBA has a later withdrawal deadline (June 16) but the NCAA has its own set of rules that states the deadline is 10 days after the NBA Combine ends. The 2024 NBA Draft is June 26-27.

James will need approval from NBA's Fitness to Play Panel before he can become eligible to participate in team workouts, the draft combine in May or be selected in the draft due to the cardiac arrest, according to ESPN. 

LeBron has a player option for the 2024-25 NBA season that he could hypothetically decline, which can create an easier path for the two to pair up next season. The Lakers own their second-round pick for the 2024 NBA Draft. The New Orleans Pelicans own the Lakers first-round pick and have the right to receive their 2025 first-round pick instead.

Portal possibilities

Days after his father shot down the rumors of him entering the transfer portal, USC poached Arkansas coach Eric Musselman to replace Andy Enfield, who left town to take the vacant job at SMU. Despite Musselman having ties to the James family, he still elected to enter the upcoming draft and the transfer portal. 

The younger James played with Arkansas signee Isaiah Elohim at Sierra Canyon High School in Chatsworth, California. Musselman recruited Elohim to Arkansas before he left for the vacant job with the Trojans. However, James decided to enter the portal - the first step for a player who intends to transfer.

Early logical options to land James out of the transfer portal Ohio State, Duquesne, Oregon, UCLA, and SMU. Coming out of high school, James committed to USC over Oregon and Ohio State. Duquesne recently named Dru Joyce III — LeBron's former high school teammate from St. Vincent-St. Mary High School — its next coach of the program.  

Impact on USC

USC has already lost star wing Kobe Johnson via the transfer portal this offseason to crosstown rival UCLA. Collier is expected to enter the NBA Draft, and four-star guard Trent Perry recently de-committed from the school after the coaching change. 

Musselman is an excellent high school and transfer portal recruiter. While he was at Arkansas, he helped land the No. 2 overall recruiting class behind Duke in the 2022 cycle. Musselman is known to use the transfer portal to attract talent, which will likely be the case as the Trojans transition to the Big Ten. 

Most top high school talent in the 2024 recruiting class already signed their National Letter of Intent to their respective schools. Musselman's best option to replace James, Collier, and Boogie Ellis in the backcourt is to convince Perry to stay.

Paul Pierce Suggests LeBron James Could've Voted Him as NBA's GOAT in Player Poll

Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

One person voted for ex-Boston Celtics legend (and Basketball Hall of Famer) Paul Pierce as the game's greatest of all time in The Athletic's recent anonymous poll of NBA players.

As good as Pierce is, this is very likely his first public inclusion into the GOAT conversation, which has largely been populated by Michael Jordan (who received 45.9 percent of the vote) and LeBron James (42.1 percent).

During an appearance on Tuesday's edition of FS1's Undisputed show with Keyshawn Johnson and Skip Bayless, Pierce was asked about the vote, alongside a query on who he thought voted for him (h/t Brandon Contes of Awful Announcing).

"Hey Skip, Key, sometimes it's not always everything you do on the court, but off the court too that makes you the GOAT," Pierce said.

"Hey, it's a combination of things that can put you in the GOAT conversation buddy...Don't hate the player, hate the game, you know what I'm saying?"

Soon afterward, Pierce brought up James' name unprompted.

"What if LBJ voted for me? I played against him, he must think something. What do you think about that? What do you think about that? We had a lot of battles. Come on now, we had some tough battles. We had some tough battles. It could have been LB."

Johnson then said that he held his own, and Pierce said he agreed (until he got old).

The C's and James' Cleveland Cavaliers (and later Miami Heat) absolutely had some battles. Boston beat Cleveland four games to three in the 2008 Eastern Conference Semifinals and 4-2 in the 2010 East semis. James then left for the Heat, who beat the C's in the 2011 East semis and 2012 East finals.

Pierce held his own against one of the game's all-time legends. He's not the GOAT, but he had a great career in his own right, making 10 All-Star teams and four All-NBA teams. Pierce also made the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team.

Steph Curry Ranked Over LeBron James on Surprising NBA List

The NBA recently revealed their list of top selling jerseys for the second half of this NBA season, and Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry ranked atop the league. Beating out Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, who was second on this list, Curry ranked first in jersey sales across the entire NBA in the second half of the season.

NBA says Jalen Brunson's jersey was No. 15 in ranking of top jerseys sold in second half of the season. Knicks were in top 10 in team merchandise sales for that time period: pic.twitter.com/35w32ZWvOi

— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) April 19, 2024

This is very impressive, considering Curry has been on the same team his entire career. Still widely considered the two faces of the NBA, James and Curry are clearly still atop of the league in terms of popularity.

It is unfortunate that Curry and the Warriors were not able to make the playoffs, as there is always a lot of excitement whenever Golden State is in the mix. While the Lakers did make the playoffs, they already trail the defending champion Denver Nuggets 0-2, having now lost 10-straight games to them.

The Lakers and Warriors played some incredible regular season battles this year, and just missed facing each other in the play-in tournament. These two teams faced off in last year's Western Conference Semi-Finals series, with Los Angeles eliminating Golden State.

Curry and James have had several battles against each other on the game's biggest stage, and as previously mentioned, remain the two most popular players in the league.

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NBA Players Explain Picking Lakers' LeBron James over Michael Jordan in GOAT Debate

Jason Miller/Getty Images

Michael Jordan is still the greatest of all time in the eyes of NBA players, but his lead over LeBron James is narrowing.

On Monday, The Athletic released the results of its annual player poll, and 45.9 percent of the 133 players who responded regarding the GOAT question picked His Airness. That was followed by James at 42.1 percent and Kobe Bryant at 9.8 percent

Sam Amick of The Athletic noted Jordan's lead over James is much smaller than it was in the same poll in 2019 (73 percent to 11.9 percent) and 2023 (58.3 percent to 33 percent). While part of that can be explained by younger players entering the league who grew up watching James and are only familiar with Jordan through highlights, some of the players who picked the King discussed their rationale.

"I'd say LeBron," one player said. "Just to be able to do it for 20 years, it's insane. I think it's more of a longevity thing that you have to look at there, and (how) still every year he's playing at the highest level. With the highest expectations (placed on him), he had everything to lose in terms of coming into the league.

"It would've been very easy for him to underachieve and not meet those expectations, I think he's far surpassed them, all of them, somehow. … Being on the floor, the closer you are to the game, the more of a sense (you get) for how great LeBron is, how he sees things, how he talks. His impact on the game, his gravity on the game is felt."

Amick noted those who voted for James consistently pointed to his longevity, which isn't surprising.

After all, he is 39 years old and just completed his 21st season in the league. While he may not be the same player he was at his peak, he still made the All-Star Game for the 20th time in his career this season and helped lead the Los Angeles Lakers to the playoffs by averaging 25.7 points, 8.3 assists, 7.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game.

Nikola Jokić and Luka Dončić were the only other players in the league to average at least 25 points, eight assists and seven rebounds this season.

That longevity allowed him to break Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's all-time scoring record last year, further cementing his legacy as an all-time great.

"Who would I draft in an all-time draft?" one player said. "That's the way I look at it, you know what I'm saying? Some people look at it like, 'Who do I want taking the last shot?' Blah, blah, blah, all this other sh–. But in an all-time draft, I'm choosing LeBron. Why? I get 20 years of greatness, and I get somebody who plays one through five (point guard through center). And let me just say, the person I choose No. 2 would be Shaq (O'Neal), the most dominant player of all time. So in my GOAT debate, I would go 1-2 like that. And this is coming from a Kobe (Bryant) fan."

Another player highlighted that longevity.

"(LeBron) for sure," he said. "I think him being able to literally do everything and win (titles) with so many different organizations (the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Lakers) and also having the most points in his career, along with figuring out how to have longevity in his career. Everybody's looking to have longevity, and he figured it out. He figured it out at the highest level. It doesn't make any sense."

James is still chasing Jordan in titles (six to four), NBA Finals MVPs (six to four) and league MVPs (five to four), but even that might underscore the difference between the two.

Jordan's peak might never be matched. Even retiring for nearly two seasons to play baseball didn't prevent him from winning six championships during an eight-year span and taking over both the league and popular culture as a whole.

But he played 14 seasons that were interrupted by multiple retirements. James has continued to play at an incredible level across 21 different campaigns and doesn't look like he will be falling from the ranks of the league's All-Stars anytime soon.

Jordan's peak or James' longevity?

It is a question that has split the NBA community, including the players.

Video: LeBron James Says 'It's F--king Stupid' While Reacting to Lakers' Nuggets Loss

Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James let his frustration be known following L.A.'s 101-99 loss to the Denver Nuggets in Game 2 of their Western Conference first-round playoff series on Monday night.

While speaking to reporters after the game (h/t ESPN's Dave McMenamin), James took issue with what he perceived to be inconsistent officiating from the referees.

In reference to a foul originally called against Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. on Lakers guard D'Angelo Russell late in the third quarter, James said: "D-Lo clearly gets hit in the face on a drive. What the f--k do we have a replay center for if it's going to go [like that]? It doesn't make sense to me."

James later had a somewhat questionable foul called against him with 57.1 seconds left in the game, which allowed Nuggets guard Jamal Murray to hit two free throws and tie the game.

Per McMenamin, a Lakers source suggested that the James foul could have been considered "marginal" contact and overturned, which was the rationale crew chief Scott Foster used for overturning the Porter foul.

LeBron continued by saying the officiating inconsistencies "make no sense" and "bother" him. When he got up and left the podium, James said, "It's f---ing stupid."

Given that the Lakers were already down 1-0 in the series, Monday's loss was significant, and it loomed especially large since L.A. was in control for much of the contest.

The Lakers led by 15 at halftime and 10 after three quarters, but they were outscored 32-20 in the fourth, and Murray put an exclamation point on the game by hitting the game-winning shot with 0.1 seconds remaining.

Now, James and the Lakers are facing elimination if they don't turn things around quickly against the reigning NBA champions.

Denver swept L.A. in the Western Conference Finals last season, and although the circumstances surrounding the Nuggets' win on Monday were controversial, it is starting to feel as though the Nuggets may have the Lakers' number.

Nuggets' Jamal Murray Amazes NBA Fans with Game-Winner to Beat LeBron James, Lakers

Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images

Jamal Murray: Champion. Cold-blooded. Game 2 hero.

After struggling with his shot throughout Monday's Game 2 of the Denver Nuggets' first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers, the guard put his team on his back and scored six points in the final minute. The last two came on a fadeaway jumper as the buzzer sounded, giving Denver the 101-99 victory.

The reigning champions are now up 2-0 on the series and maintained their dominance over the Lakers by overcoming a 20-point deficit for the win.

It was an incredible ending with LeBron James stealing the ball and elevating for a dunk to put the Lakers ahead by three in the final two minutes. From there, Michael Porter Jr. tied it with a triple, D'Angelo Russell gave Los Angeles the lead with a layup, Murray hit two free throws to tie it, and then he and James exchanged baskets.

James had a wide-open three-pointer on the Lakers' final possession but missed it. That set the stage for Murray's game-winner, which drew plenty of reaction from social media:

Murray finished with 20 points and five assists on 9-of-24 shooting from the field, while Nikola Jokić dazzled with 27 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists and two steals. Porter also impressed with 22 points and nine boards behind 6-of-10 shooting from deep.

As for the Lakers, Monday's loss surely feels like an obstacle they may not be able to overcome.

While Denver swept Los Angeles in the 2023 Western Conference Finals and won all three regular-season matchups in 2023-24, it seemed like the Lakers were finally going to put that all behind them on Monday.

After all, they jumped out to a 15-point halftime lead while Anthony Davis (32 points and 11 rebounds) played at an unstoppable level. Russell also caught fire from deep on his way to 23 points and seven three-pointers, while James was in full control as the primary facilitator and de-facto point guard.

The King (26 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds) dictated tempo in pick-and-rolls with Davis and then sensed when he needed to assert himself as a scorer with back-to-back three-pointers and an and-1 down the stretch after the Nuggets climbed all the way back from their 20-point deficit.

On another night, James' steal and monster dunk over Murray may have been the exclamation mark from another vintage performance by the all-time great.

Instead, Murray had other ideas.

Take-Two Beats LeBron James’ Tattoo Artist in Lawsuit Over Copyright

Video games based around sports like to get the players to look as real as possible, and that usually includes adding any notable tattoos. Well, one artist wasn't having any part of that. Take-Two has defeated LeBron James' tattoo artist in a lawsuit over copyright infringement.

The artist at the center of the lawsuit, Jimmy Hayden, began this legal endeavor in 2017, but it wasn't until 2019 that he started to argue copyright infringement for the use of his work in Take-Two's NBA 2K series. James was never involved in the lawsuit.

According to Reuters, though, a jury in Ohio determined that Take-Two did not infringe on the copyright because of an implied license that allowed the company to use James' likeness, which included his tattoos.

Related: Top Spin 2K25 Is Almost Ready for the Masters (Review)

Attorney Dale Cendali of Kirkland & Ellis, who represented Take-Two, told Reuters that the decision was important for the entertainment industry and " anyone who has ever gotten a tattoo and might have otherwise worried about their freedom to share their bodies with their tattoos."

This isn't the first time Take-Two has had to go to court for a case involving tattoos. Solid Oak Sketches, a notable tattoo studio, claimed copyright infringement against the company in 2016 due to it recreating tattoos of James and Kobe Bryant. Take-Two ended up winning the case in 2020 after proving fair use.

Take-Two wasn't so lucky in 2022, however, when artist Catherine Alexander was awarded $3,700 after the company failed to prove its recreation of Randy Orton's tattoos in the WWE 2K series fell under fair use.

NBA 2K24 is available now.

If you're interested in more sports-related content, here's a piece about how former NFL player Jason Kelce wants to revive the Backyard Football and Baseball series.

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LeBron James NBA Playoff history, stats, appearances and record

Want to know how LeBron James has performed in the playoffs in his NBA career? We've got a breakdown of his postseason stats in this article.

In his NBA career, James has clinched four championships, with his last title coming with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020, defeating the Miami Heat four games to two.

LeBron James Playoff History

Playoff Stats: 283 GP | 28.4 PPG | 9.0 RPG | 7.2 APG

Playoff Series Record: 41-13

Playoff Record: 182-101

Playoff Appearances: 17

Play-In Appearances: 3

Conference Finals Appearances: 12

NBA Finals Appearances: 10

Championships: 4

Watch the NBA Playoffs on Sling TV! LeBron James Playoff Appearances 2023: Los Angeles Lakers

Playoff Stats: 16 GP | 24.5 PPG | 9.9 RPG | 6.5 APG

Final Series: Lost 4-0 to the Denver Nuggets

Exit Round: Conference Finals

2021: Los Angeles Lakers

Playoff Stats: 6 GP | 23.3 PPG | 7.2 RPG | 8.0 APG

Final Series: Lost 4-2 to the Phoenix Suns

Exit Round: First Round

2020: Los Angeles Lakers

Playoff Stats: 21 GP | 27.6 PPG | 10.8 RPG | 8.8 APG

Final Series: Beat the Miami Heat 4-2

Final Round: NBA Finals

2018: Cleveland Cavaliers

Playoff Stats: 22 GP | 34.0 PPG | 9.1 RPG | 9.0 APG

Final Series: Lost 4-0 to the Golden State Warriors

Exit Round: NBA Finals

2017: Cleveland Cavaliers

Playoff Stats: 18 GP | 32.8 PPG | 9.1 RPG | 7.8 APG

Final Series: Lost 4-1 to the Golden State Warriors

Exit Round: NBA Finals

2016: Cleveland Cavaliers

Playoff Stats: 21 GP | 26.3 PPG | 9.5 RPG | 7.6 APG

Final Series: Beat the Golden State Warriors 4-3

Final Round: NBA Finals

2015: Cleveland Cavaliers

Playoff Stats: 20 GP | 30.1 PPG | 11.3 RPG | 8.5 APG

Final Series: Lost 4-2 to the Golden State Warriors

Exit Round: NBA Finals

2014: Miami Heat

Playoff Stats: 20 GP | 27.4 PPG | 7.1 RPG | 4.8 APG

Final Series: Lost 4-1 to the San Antonio Spurs

Exit Round: NBA Finals

2013: Miami Heat

Playoff Stats: 23 GP | 25.9 PPG | 8.4 RPG | 6.6 APG

Final Series: Beat the San Antonio Spurs 4-3

Final Round: NBA Finals

2012: Miami Heat

Playoff Stats: 23 GP | 30.3 PPG | 9.7 RPG | 5.6 APG

Final Series: Beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 4-1

Final Round: NBA Finals

2011: Miami Heat

Playoff Stats: 21 GP | 23.7 PPG | 8.4 RPG | 5.9 APG

Final Series: Lost 4-2 to the Dallas Mavericks

Exit Round: NBA Finals

2010: Cleveland Cavaliers

Playoff Stats: 11 GP | 29.1 PPG | 9.3 RPG | 7.6 APG

Final Series: Lost 4-2 to the Boston Celtics

Exit Round: Conference Semifinals

2009: Cleveland Cavaliers

Playoff Stats: 14 GP | 35.3 PPG | 9.1 RPG | 7.3 APG

Final Series: Lost 4-2 to the Orlando Magic

Exit Round: Conference Finals

2008: Cleveland Cavaliers

Playoff Stats: 13 GP | 28.2 PPG | 7.8 RPG | 7.6 APG

Final Series: Lost 4-3 to the Boston Celtics

Exit Round: Conference Semifinals

2007: Cleveland Cavaliers

Playoff Stats: 20 GP | 25.1 PPG | 8.1 RPG | 8.0 APG

Final Series: Lost 4-0 to the San Antonio Spurs

Exit Round: NBA Finals

2006: Cleveland Cavaliers

Playoff Stats: 13 GP | 30.8 PPG | 8.1 RPG | 5.8 APG

Final Series: Lost 4-3 to the Detroit Pistons

Exit Round: Conference Semifinals

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Kendrick Perkins Got Confused on Why LeBron James Was Wearing a Durag During the Warmup

LeBron James (Photo by Tyle r Kaufman/Getty Images)

Regarding LeBron James' pregame attire for Saturday's LA Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets game, Kendrick Perkins was confused. LeBron James and the Lakers are in Denver to begin their Game 1 of the playoff with the reigning champs.

When James wore a durag, Perkins questioned the crew during ESPN's pregame broadcast. When it was worn on the court for the first time in 2000, it was outlawed despite being a popular item in the 1990s. Even during pregame activities and postgame interviews, players are still permitted to wear them.

"Why is he wearing a durag?" Perkins asked. "Because he means business, Perk," Malika Andrews replied. Although LeBron James hasn't worn a durag during a game, he has frequently donned the gear during warm-ups, warm-downs, and even during practices. Although durags have long been connected to African-American culture, players also use them to protect their hairstyles.

When LeBron James wears a durag during warmups, it's a huge deal because he doesn't do it so often these days. According to Jalen Rose, a former NBA player and current pundit, James wears a durag to protect his unit.

Also Read: Nikola Jokic Continues to Be a Nightmare for the Lakers as the Nuggets Secured an Easy Win in Game 1

Rose cited the instance in which James' hairline moved when James had a headband on during a game, as Anthony Davis saw. He clarified that the device is held in place by the durag.

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LeBron James' receding hairline is well known, and several players and supporters, including Shaquille O'Neal and Charles Barkley, have begged him to return home. It indicates they want him to cut off all his hair and quit resisting entirely.

After Sam Perkins became the first player to wear a durag in a game, the NBA decided to outlaw them during contests. When Perkins donned a durag during an Indiana Pacers game, David Stern and the league promptly outlawed the item out of concern for player safety.

Also Read: Magic Johnson Claimed That Los Angeles Lakers' Guards Have to Bring Their "A-Game" to Defeat the Nuggets

Savannah James’ Style Through the Years: LeBron James’ Wife’s Court Side Looks, Red Carpets and Fashion Weeks

Savannah James is the wife of professional basketball player and decorated athlete LeBron James. The couple has been married for more than 10 years. During her time in the spotlight, Savannah James' style has gone through an evolution, with her fashion sensibility and approach to style growing on and off the basketball courts, including on front rows during Paris Fashion Weeks.

When James started making more and more public appearances with her husband, it was evident that she had an eye for trends, texture and looks that worked for her. But everything changed when she began collaborating with stylist Casey "Icon" Billingsley in 2021.

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Savannah and LeBron James attend the 2016 Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year at Barclays Center of Brooklyn on Dec. 12, 2016, in the Brooklyn.

One of their most notable collaborations came when the two worked together for the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party, for which James wore a white-hot mermaid gown by Sergio Hudson. The look was a show-stopper, but the dress held an even deeper meaning. "These are the moments that I feel will propel her even further into the stratosphere," Icon said of the Vanity Fair Oscars Party look while speaking with WWD in March 2023.

Savannah James arrives at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party on March 12, 2023.

"It's one thing to get with a starlet, someone who's famous and wants to change up their style or introduce themselves to a new audience, but this was something that was all-around different," the stylist explained further. "When I first started working with her it was like she was literally taking steps out of her cocoon," Icon said.

Savannah James at the Los Angeles Lakers and Indiana Pacers game March 24, 2024, in Los Angeles.

Since Icon began working with James, her style has reached an entirely new level. It's elevated, but it's still true to who she is. "Hitting the scene, doing carpets and taking these bold choices was a seed that I've been watering over time," Icon said. "As of recently, it's really blossoming and she's getting the hang of what all of this means and how she's being inserted into the conversation from a fashion perspective," Icon told WWD.

These days, whether she's hitting the red carpet or watching her husband on the court, James' style has a new level of confidence. While sitting court side to watch the Los Angeles Lakers, for whom her husband plays, take on the Indiana Pacers in March 2024, James wore a Balenciaga hoodie with her hair styled in a shiny white-silver look.

Savannah James' Style Through the Years: LeBron James' Wife's Fashion Evolution [PHOTOS]

Savannah James at Billboard Women In Music 2024 held at YouTube Theater on March 6, 2024 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Rich Polk/Billboard via Getty Images)

PARIS, FRANCE - JANUARY 22: Savannah James wears black velvet Schiaparelli top with gold buttons and fur details, gold bag, gold earrings, outside Schiaparelli, during the Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2024 as part of Paris Fashion Week on January 22, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Claudio Lavenia/Getty Images)

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 12: Savannah James attends the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 12, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage,)

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She has undergone a style evolution and metamorphosis, emerging from her cocoon after being coaxed out by the likes of Icon and more in the fashion industry. She's only just begun to spread her wings.

Click below to see Savannah James' style through the years.

savannah james style, fashion, outfits, red carpets, lebron james wife, before and after

Launch Gallery: Savannah James' Style Through the Years: LeBron James' Wife's Fashion Evolution [PHOTOS]

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Steph Curry, LeBron James Top Best-Selling NBA Jerseys for 2nd Half of 2023-24 Season

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry and Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James were among the superstars who paced the NBA in jersey sales during the second half of the 2023-24 season.

SNY's Ian Begley shared the list of the top 15 players in terms of jersey sales and the top 10 teams in terms of merchandise sales during the second half on Friday:

Not surprisingly, a pair of all-time greats and future Hall of Famers in Curry and James led the way. They were joined in the top five by a perennial All-Star in Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum at No. 3, likely NBA Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs at No. 4 and two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks at No. 5.

As for the teams with the most overall merch sales during the second half, James' Lakers led the way, followed by the Celtics, Warriors, Bucks and Chicago Bulls.

Iconic players like Curry and James always seem to have strong jersey sales, but it likely didn't hurt that they continue to perform at an elite level deep into their careers.

Steph, 36, was named an All-Star for the 10th time this season. The two-time NBA MVP, four-time NBA champion and one-time NBA Finals MVP also averaged 26.4 points, 5.1 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 4.8 three-pointers made per contest.

LeBron is the oldest player in the NBA at 39, but he showed no signs of slowing down in his 21st NBA season.

The 20-time All-Star, four-time NBA champion, four-time NBA champion, four-time NBA Finals MVP and all-time leading NBA scorer averaged 25.7 points, 8.3 assists, 7.3 rebounds, 2.1 three-pointers made and 1.3 steals in 71 games, which were his most games played since the 2017-18 season.

James also helped the Lakers secure the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference, and they beat the New Orleans Pelicans in the No. 7 vs. No. 8 play-in game to reach the playoffs.

While Curry and James are legends, Wembanyama is perhaps the fastest-rising star in the sport of basketball.

Expectations were through the roof when the Spurs used the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft to take the 7'4" Frenchman, but he has arguably been even better than advertised.

Wemby averaged 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.8 three-pointers made, 1.2 steals and a league-leading 3.6 blocks per game in his debut season.

Despite being just 20 years of age, Wembanyama is a leading NBA Defensive Player of the Year candidate, and he would be the youngest player to ever win the award.

Also, even though the Spurs had the second-worst record in the Western Conference at 22-60, they were ninth in team merchandise sales during the second half, which speaks to Wemby's impact.

'Memes & Nightmares,' LeBron James-Produced Film About NBA Twitter, to Premiere at Tribeca Festival

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James's distinguished career has come of age with—and facilitated—the NBA's rise as a digital cultural touchstone.

Now, James is attached to a film about the phenomenon.

Memes & Nightmares, an 81-minute movie for which James serves as an executive producer, is set to premiere at New York's prestigious Tribeca Festival in June. The film, listed under the action, comedy, documentary, mystery and sports categories, follows ex-UCLA forward and NBA Twitter maven Josiah Johnson in an exploration of "our relationship with ephemeral media, and each other in the digital age."

Alongside Johnson, former NBA players Darius Miles and J.R. Smith are listed among the cast.

This will mark James's fourth film production credit, following 2021's commercial and critical flop Space Jam: A New Legacy, the 2022 hockey racism exposé Black Ice, and a 2023 House Party reboot.

James's Lakers are scheduled to open their playoff run Saturday evening against the Denver Nuggets.

LeBron James Takes Jab at Memphis Grizzlies Legend

LeBron James has done it all in his NBA career. He's a four-time NBA Champion, four-time Finals MVP, four-time NBA MVP, and a list of endless other accolades. However, there's one particular award that James has never won and one that stings.

During an episode of 'The Shop,' LeBron James opened up about never winning Defensive Player of the Year and gave a subtle jab to Grizzlies fan-favorite Marc Gasol in the process.

"Defensive Player of the Year," James said. "I mean, that's the only award that I don't have in my house. It kind of stings. I've talked about this before. Like, it don't make sense. It's almost like what Jay [Z] just said about [Beyonce]. How could she have the most GRAMMYs? But never won Album of the Year. So, the year I finished second in Defensive Player of the Year award, the guy who won Defensive Player of the Year didn't even make first team on defense."

"It don't make sense." 😤@KingJames talks about the one award he hasn't won and why it still stings in an all-new episode of #TheShop – dropping this Thursday. pic.twitter.com/Rqh4L7fQ2L

— The Shop (@TheShopUN) April 16, 2024

Marc Gasol and LeBron James were once teammates on the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2021 NBA season so there likely isn't much beef between the two players. However, it's pretty clear that LeBron feels some type of way about losing the award to Gasol. While Gasol wasn't the best individual defender in the NBA in 2013, he was arguably the best defensive anchor on a top-tier defensive team. For that reason, he was likely voted Defense Player of the Year.

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LeBron James wishes he had a DPOY award in his trophy cabinet: ‘It kind of stings’

The amount of accolades that LeBron James has attained during his career is nothing short of spectacular, as he's not only the player who has scored more points in NBA history, but also a 20-time All-Star, a four-time champion and a four-time league MVP. However, there's still one award he's never won, and he's not too happy about it. 

Even though he's finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting twice already, he's never earned this honor. The Lakers superstar recently admitted that he wishes he could have this award in his trophy cabinet.

"I mean, that's the only award that I don't have in my house. It kind of stings," LeBron said in a promotional clip from the upcoming show of The Shop: Uninterrupted.

Even though this HBO episode won't drop until Thursday, he's seen talking about the DPOY in a quick sneak peak. "I've talked about this before, like, it don't make sense. It's almost what [Jay-Z] just said about [Beyoncé]. How could she have the most Grammys, but never won Album of the Year?" James asked.

The 39-year-old, who is the oldest player in the league, earned his first MVP when he played for the Cavaliers in 2009. That season, he finished second to Magic center Dwight Howard in that year's voting, as the Orlando player earned 105 first-place votes and 542 total points.

LeBron, on the other hand, got only 4 first-place votes and 148 points. "The guy who won defensive player of the year didn't even make first-team all-defense," the purple and gold star said on the promotional clip. "How is that even possible?"

Something similar happened with Pau Gasol years ago, when he won DYOP but only managed to get into the second All-NBA team. One of the reasons behind this could be the fact that at the time, the all-defensive teams were determined by coaches' votes, which is a completely different group of people that cast ballots for defensive player of the year.

The Lakers will now face the reigning champions in the first round of the West's playoff series

The Lakers advanced to the NBA Playoffs this Tuesday night, but will face none other than their worst nightmare, as the Nuggets have won every game they've encountered against them this season (3-0), plus last year's Western Conference Finals. However, LeBron James and Anthony Davis looked in great shape against New Orleans.

The league's oldest player inspired his team to a 110-106 victory with his 23 points, 9 assists and 9 rebounds, and secured a playoff berth for his team. "Tonight we showcased what we were able to do both offensively and defensively," LeBron shared. "We've got a good group going right now, good rotation, good plan and guys are coming in ready to go."

L.A. coach Darvin Ham admitted that the Pelicans "threw some heavy blows at us," but "they kept swinging. We kept fighting back. It revealed a lot about us and what we're made of," he said.

AD was also on fire last night as he tallied 20 points and 15 rebounds. Now the Lakers prepare for Saturday's first game of the series against Denver, as the first contest will be held in California at the Crypto.com Arena.

LeBron James throws shade at Marc Gasol over 2013 Defensive Player of the Year Award

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Knicks' 2010 recruitment video for LeBron James resurfaces, featuring James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano

The New York Knicks took a huge swing at attempting to lure LeBron James to town back in 2010 when James was a free agent. On Tuesday's episode of the "Pablo Torre Finds Out" podcast, Pablo Torre shared parts of the recruitment video, which featured characters from "The Sopranos" along with several high-profile celebrities with ties to the Big Apple.

In addition to James Gandolfini and Edie Falco returning to their respective characters from the show, future president Donald Trump, Chris Rock, Robert De Niro and Spike Lee all made cameos in the video.

Unfortunately for the Knicks, it was all for nothing as James ended up taking his talents to South Beach and playing with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh as a member of the Miami Heat. James spent the next four seasons with the Heat and won two NBA titles.

James has since won two more championships with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers.

Heading into the 2010 offseason, the Knicks were coming off of a 29-53 season under head coach Mike D'Antoni. If James had ended up calling New York home, it likely would've been an uphill battle.

Ironically enough, James could elect to test free agency in the near future since he has a player option on his deal for the 2024-25 season. The Knicks would have a better pitch this time around considering that they are the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs this year.

LeBron James has reached a new career assists milestone

The Los Angeles Lakers started excellently in their final regular-season game of the 2023-24 campaign on Sunday. They took a 70-53 lead at halftime over the New Orleans Pelicans and appeared in playoff mode.

LeBron James played a marvelous first half with 13 points, 13 assists, six rebounds and four assists. He looked intent on getting this win for Los Angeles and giving it an eighth-place finish in the Western Conference, which would mean it would only have to win one play-in tournament game to reach the playoffs.

During the first half of Sunday's game, James reached 11,000 assists for his career. It also made him the first NBA player to ever log 40,000 points, 11,000 rebounds and 11,000 assists for his career.

The 39-year-old is nearing Chris Paul in terms of career assists. Paul came into Sunday with 11,888 assists and is third in NBA history in that statistic.

LeBron James, Lakers Hyped as Scary 8 Seed by NBA Fans After Rout vs. Zion, Pelicans

Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images

The Los Angeles Lakers are one win away from the postseason.

The team locked up the No. 8 overall seed in the West and a Play-In Tournament matchup with the New Orleans Pelicans after beating the Pels 124-108 on Sunday.

LeBron James concluded the regular season in style, finishing with a 28-point, 17-assist, 11-rebound triple-double in the victory. There will be concerns after Anthony Davis left the game in the fourth quarter, limping off the court and clearly in pain. The team's postseason odds take an enormous hit if he's not healthy.

But if he's healthy and thriving, the Lakers have the makings of a very dangerous team. Folks on social media certainly believe as much:

Here's why Sunday's win was so important. With the victory, the Lakers now only have to win one Play-In game—with a second chance to do so if they lose to the Pelicans on Tuesday—to reach the postseason. Losing would have risked a drop to the No. 9 or 10 seed, where they would have had to win two straight games to get in.

The danger in winning the first Play-In game is that the 2-seeded Denver Nuggets, the defending NBA champions, would await in the first round of the playoffs. The Lakers have lost eight straight games to the Nuggets dating back to last season.

The danger in not beating the Pelicans on Tuesday is that either the Sacramento Kings or Golden State Warriors would be waiting in the second Play-In Tournament game. The Lakers went 0-4 against Sacramento this season and 1-3 against the Dubs.

So while a first-round matchup against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder would be preferable to another matchup with the Nuggets, the Lakers would risk missing out on the postseason altogether in a matchup against the Kings or Warriors.

Come this point in the season, every team faces tough matchups and opponents. The Lakers—who are riding high after winning 11 of their past 14 games—aren't going to sandbag a Play-In Tournament game. They'll be playing for keeps against the Pels again on Tuesday.

Anthony Davis, LeBron James available for today's game vs. Pelicans

By HoopsHype | April 14, 2024

What's the buzz on Twitter? Jovan Buha @jovanbuhaLakers' starters vs. New Orleans:D'Angelo RussellAustin ReavesRui HachimuraLeBron JamesAnthony DavisRecord as starters: 17-6 – 3:01 PM Ryan Ward @RyanWardLAAnthony Davis (left eye contusion) and LeBron James (left ankle peroneal tendinopathy) have been upgraded to AVAILABLE for today's game at New Orleans. – 2:50 PM Julia Poe @byjuliapoeSame as last year, Dalen Terry's absolute top priority this summer has to be drilling that 3-point shot ad nauseam – 1:33 PM Bill Simmons @BillSimmonsSuch a fun NBA day ahead… time to boost something!The Lakers need a win in NO to lock down 8th, otherwise they will almost def drop to 10. Classic big game LeBron spot.The parlay…—Lakers +120 to win—LeBron 20+ ptsBoosted to +200 – find it on BOOSTS on @FDSportsbook pic.twitter.com/laYEy0r3nc – 11:03 AM Sirius XM NBA @SiriusXMNBA"What he continues to do today… I'm blown away."Hear new @DuqMBB coach and longtime friend of LeBron James, Dru Joyce, tell @TheFrankIsola and @Scalabrine why he continues to be impressed by LeBron each and everyday@DruOnDemand pic.twitter.com/4cmsYyy6Kj – 8:41 PM Paul Garcia @PaulGarciaNBAWemby will finish tied for 1st in blocks during crunch time (final 5 mins) with Nic Claxton.Both players tallied 17 crunch time blocks.Anthony Davis and Chet Holmgren are 3rd/4th with 11 crunch time blocks – 6:19 PM Frank Madden @fmaddenNBAGiannis finishes the year averaging 30.4 ppg and 31.2 pts/36 min — his SIXTH straight year averaging >30 pts/36.No one else has done that more than 4x (some guy named Jordan). Wilt only did it 2x. KD/LeBron never did it. Giannis = one of the most dominant scorers in history. pic.twitter.com/6465Lgwwxr – 4:39 PM Allen Sliwa @AllenSliwaI know a win is a win, but nothing about tonight was encouraging. Did not seem like they cared about what was on the line. Every key player for Memphis is out and Lakers need Lebron & AD to play 40+ minutes. That was awful – 11:03 PM Jovan Buha @jovanbuhaFinal: Lakers 123, Grizzlies 120This was as ugly and concerning as a win could be at this stage of the season. But LA held on and improves to 46-35 to keep their goal of moving into the 7-8 game alive. AD had 36/14/5. LeBron had 37/10/5.Up next: at the Pelicans on Sunday. – 10:33 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporterGabe Vincent with some important minutes here, as he hit a wing 3, then drew an offensive foul amidst a Lakers run that was capped by AD's put-back of Vincent's transition 3.LAL lead 107-99, now on a 25-8 run. – 9:59 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporterSignifying the importance of this result for LAL, Anthony Davis is staying on the floor to start the 4th Q, after playing the entire 3rd Q. – 9:54 PM Jovan Buha @jovanbuhaThird quarter: Lakers 98, Grizzlies 97LA trailed for the middle five minutes of the third before regaining the lead late. AD has 28 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 blocks. LeBron has 25 points but more turnovers (7) than assists (4). A crucial 12 minutes coming up. – 9:53 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporterLAL closed the 3rd Q with a 16-6 push to reclaim the lead at 98-97 with 12 minutes to play.Anthony Davis has done his part as usual, with 28 points, 11 boards, 5 assists, 2 blocks and 1 steal already. – 9:52 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporterLeBron really picked things up defensively and sparked a run here, as LAL trim what had grown to a 9-point deficit at the 4:42 mark.Lakers now lead at the 2:00 mark after an AD jumper. – 9:48 PM Dave McMenamin @mctenThe Lakers led by as many as 13 but take just a 68-64 lead into halftime against the heavily depleted Grizzlies. LeBron and AD have 15 pts apiece for LAL; GG Jackson and Jake LaRavia have 17 pts apiece for MEM – 9:08 PM Jovan Buha @jovanbuhaHalftime: Lakers 68, Grizzlies 64Memphis outscored LA 38-34 in the second quarter. AD has 15 points and 6 rebounds. LeBron has 15 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists. Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura each have 10 points. Jake LaRavia and GG Jackson each have 17 points for MEM. – 9:08 PM Jovan Buha @jovanbuhaFirst quarter: Lakers 34, Grizzlies 26Bench unit of AD, TP, Spencer, DLo and Gabe closed the quarter on an 8-0 run. AD has 13 points and 5 rebounds. Austin Reaves has 8 points. LA is shooting 56.5%. Memphis is shooting 37%. The Lakers already have 18 points in the paint. – 8:38 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporterLAL scored the final 8 points of the 1st Q to take a 34-26 lead into the 2nd Q.Anthony Davis, after missing 7 of the last 8 quarters, led the way with 13 points and 5 boards in the period. – 8:36 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporterAnthony Davis has a pair of buckets inside, and Reaves a 3, but LAL have already been outworked for a pair of offensive rebounds leading to points, and conceded a careless turnover leading to a layup resulting in a 7-all early tie in Memphis. – 8:14 PM Damichael Cole @DamichaelCEveryone is talking about LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The real question is if the Grizzlies can slow down Rui Hachimura – 7:57 PM Jovan Buha @jovanbuhaLakers' starters in Memphis:D'Angelo RussellAustin ReavesRui HachimuraLeBron JamesAnthony DavisRecord as starters: 16-6 – 7:35 PM Ryan Ward @RyanWardLAAnthony Davis (left eye contusion) and LeBron James (left ankle peroneal tendinopathy) have been upgraded to AVAILABLE for tonight's game at Memphis. – 7:10 PM Dave McMenamin @mctenNew story: In 10th place with two games remaining, Anthony Davis and the Lakers aren't licking their wounds. "You can be the first seed, you still have to win basketball games. So that's our mindset. No matter where we are, we just got to win" es.pn/3Jd7EmO – 2:04 PM Jovan Buha @jovanbuhaAnthony Davis said he's feeling "phenomenal" at shootaround in Memphis today. He also clarified that his eye injury against the Timberwolves was different than the eye injury against the Warriors. He wasn't directly hit in the eye this time but rather the eye area. – 12:19 PM Mark Medina @MarkG_MedinaLakers list Anthony Davis (left eye contusion) as probable for tomorrow's game in Memphis. Lakers list LeBron James (left ankle) as questionable. – 6:31 PM More on this storyline

LeBron James Has 20 Consecutive Seasons Averaging 25+ PPG, the Most in NBA History

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James has averaged at least 25 points per game in 20 consecutive seasons of his 21-year playing career, the most in NBA history. Michael Jordan recorded 12 such seasons across his 15-year career.

Wilt Chamberlain retired with eight such seasons in his 14-year career as well. However, based on a minimum of 41 games played, Jordan and Chamberlain have only 18 total combined.

According to a few NBA betting sites, the Lakers hold ninth-shortest odds to make the Western Conference playoffs. Sportsbooks are showing better odds for the New Orleans Pelicans and Phoenix Suns.

LeBron James is also the first player in NBA history to average at least 25 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists at the age of 39. No other player has ever posted those numbers after their 10th season.

Karl Malone has the longest streak with 11 straight seasons. Plus, James in his 21st season has tallied 26 double-doubles, four triple-doubles, 20 30-point games, and three 40-point games.

In the Lakers' 116-104 win over the Brooklyn Nets on March 31, James joined Jordan as the only NBA players with multiple games of 40 points or more after turning 39.

James has done so twice now at the age of 39. Jordan, who played until he was 40, did it three times. The 20-time All-Star matched his season high with 40 points and tied his career high with nine 3-pointers.

James also made nine 3-pointers on Jan. 24, 2023, against the Los Angeles Clippers, shooting 9-for-14 (64.3%). His 90% accuracy was the second best of his career in games in which he made at least five 3-pointers, per Elias Sports. He made all five of his 3-point attempts at Oklahoma City on Dec. 23 this season.

Additionally, James passed Jordan for the most 30-point games in league history. With one game left of the regular season, the four-time NBA champ has 674 such games, whereas His Airness finished with 671. Chamberlain is third with 557.

The 19-time All-NBA member was asked how much longer he plans to play after his 40-point game against Brooklyn. Although James feels he doesn't "have much time left," the Lakers star is still playing at a high level.

"Not very long," LeBron James said. "Not very long. I'm on the other side, obviously, of the hill. So, I'm not going to play another 21 years, that's for damn sure. But not very long. I don't know what or when that door will close as far as when I retire, but I don't have much time left."

Through 70 games (all starts) this season, James is averaging 25.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 8.2 assists, 1.2 steals, and 35.2 minutes while shooting 54% from the field and a career-best 41.3% from 3-point range.

James' true shooting percentage is 63%, his highest since 2012-13 with the Miami Heat.

For another interesting record, James is one of three Lakers to average at least 22 points and eight assists per game in a season three different times — joining Jerry West and Magic Johnson.

BREAKING: LeBron James Passes Kobe Bryant On All-Time NBA List

© Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

LeBron James made NBA history during Friday's game.

On Friday evening, the Los Angeles Lakers faced off against the Memphis Grizzlies in Tennessee.

The game was close, but the Lakers were able to come away with a 123-120 victory.

Four-time NBA Champion LeBron James led the way with 37 points, nine rebounds, five assists and two steals while shooting 13/20 from the field and 3/7 from the three-point range in 41 minutes of playing time.

During the game, James also made exciting NBA history by moving ahead of Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant (8,378) for third on all-time free throws list.

Following Bryant, the next player for James to pass will be Hall of Famer Moses Malone (8,531).

Via The NBA: "Congrats to  @KingJames of the  @Lakers for moving to 3rd all-time in free throws made!"

Congrats to @KingJames of the @Lakers for moving to 3rd all-time in free throws made! pic.twitter.com/pCHeKPNZ8Z

— NBA (@NBA) April 13, 2024

James is in the middle of another incredible season with averages of 25.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 8.2 assists and 1.2 steals per contest while shooting 54.0% from the field and 41.3% from the three-point range in 70 games.

The Lakers are the eighth seed in the Western Conference with a 46-35 record in 81 games.

They have gone 7-3 over their last ten games and will now visit the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday.

Apr 12, 2024; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (left)

Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

As for the Grizzlies, they dropped to 27-54 in 81 games, which has them as the 13th seed in the Western Conference.

They have gone 3-7 over their last ten games and are also in the middle of a four-game losing streak.

The Grizzlies will not qualify for the 2024 NBA playoffs.