LeBron James delivered a rather apathetic response to losing to the Denver Nuggets last night, and fans of the Los Angeles Lakers aren’t exactly thrilled.
James and the Lake Show dropped last night’s game 112-105 and are on the brink of being swept out of the NBA playoffs by the same team for the second straight year.
Their star poured in 26 points, grabbed 6 rebounds, and dished out 9 assists.
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First, The Bad Teammate’s Response
In a post-game press conference, however, James seemed okay with his performance but was unwilling to defend his teammates. When a reporter asked about other Lakers possibly feeling pressure, he unleashed.
“You’re supposed to have anxiety and pressure — or feel the pressure,” James said. “That’s what it’s about. This is what the postseason is about.”
He then tossed others – with the exception of Anthony Davis – firmly under the bus.
“You’d have to ask the individuals that question and see how they feel. It’s hard for me just to be like, ‘This is what I think that guy feels.’ … I can’t do that. I’m not a mind reader. I don’t know.”
– LeBron James
That’s when things really got interesting. And you can add this to the ‘Do you think Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant would ever say this’ file.
“We know what it takes to win,” James said referring to himself and Davis. “We know what it takes to win a championship and how damn near perfect you got to be. That’s not like something that’s so crazy to obtain.”
“It’s just basketball… at the end of the day, it’s just basketball.”
LeBron James when asked about the pressure of having to play perfect basketball to win:
— Isabel Gonzalez (@cisabelg) April 26, 2024
“I’m not a guy that you should ask that. I don’t feel a way about anybody that don’t want to strive to be as close to perfect as possible. And it’s just basketball at the end of the day.” pic.twitter.com/MJS1BYU33F
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LeBron James: It’s Just Basketball
Now, you’re about to hear me do something I don’t often do. And that’s play devil’s advocate for LeBron.
It sounds to me in that clip that he’s not saying it as a response to the loss. Maybe he’s not dismissing that it hurts to be down 3-0.
Instead, perhaps LeBron James’ “it’s just basketball” response is to his teammates and how they shouldn’t be so tight, feeling so much pressure.
Loosen up, guys.
That said, Lakers fans are not impressed.
Other fans were quick to point out that LeBron James has made the same comment about it being “just basketball” before. The other time came when his Cleveland Cavaliers fell behind 0-2 in the NBA Finals in 2017.
James made Bounding Into Sports’ list of ‘most hated players in the NBA’ in part due to his narcissism and self-proclaimed view as being the best basketball player ever.
Throwing his teammates under the bus isn’t going to improve his image. Neither is saying “it’s just basketball” when you’re facing elimination in the playoffs.
The best of all time would never utter those words. Never.
Laker fans don’t pay a pretty penny for tickets to see a guy with that kind of attitude.
Los Angeles will try to stave off elimination when they play game 4 on Saturday night.
