With the arms race between the Lakers and Nets for buyout candidates just around the corner, it’s a good time to revisit how the clubs b
After his second stint with the Cavaliers, one that brought a championship to Cleveland, LeBron James decided to join the Los Angeles Lakers on a four deal worth $154 million.
“Today is a great day for the Lakers organization, and Lakers fans all over the world to welcome LeBron James, a three-time NBA Champion and four-time NBA MVP,” said Lakers President of Basketball Operations Earvin “Magic” Johnson.
“LeBron is special. He is the best player in the world. He loves to compete and is an awesome leader who is about winning and making sure that his teammates are successful. The Lakers players are excited to have a teammate who has been to nine NBA Finals. It’s a huge step closer to returning the Lakers to the playoffs and to the NBA Finals.”
The Los Angeles Lakers would start the season very competitive, but things started to turn when LeBron James went down with a strained left groin. Despite James’ injury, the Lakers beat the Warriors 127-101, but they would end the season 37–45. The Golden State Warriors would finish the season in the 2019 Finals but would lose in six games against the Raptors. During that series, Kevin Durant would tear his Achilles 9:46 left in the second quarter. After the game, Warriors GM Bob Myers confirmed the Achilles injury.
“It’s an Achilles injury. I don’t know the extent of it. He’ll have an MRI [Tuesday],” said Myers.
After the 2018-19 season, Kevin Durant decided to sign with the Brooklyn Nets, which later turned into a sign and trade for both teams. The same summer Kyrie Irving along with DeAndre Jordan decided to sign with the Nets. Earlier this season, the Brooklyn was a part of a four-team trade that brought James Harden to town, according to NBA.com. Teaming him up with Durant and Irving.
On Tuesday afternoon, Cuffs The Legend was on stage “LeBron, Always, Mentioned” in the #SportsLikeUs with Duke’s room on Clubhouse. During the conversation, Cuffs revealed the reason why Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden teamed up with each other because they are scared of LeBron James.
“I have regular conversations with Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving & they are telling me they are afraid of King James,” said Cuffs The Legend.
Cuffs would continue stating that they know that they have to go through LeBron to win a championship.
Earlier this month, FS1’s Rob Parker shared on Instagram live with Ryan Hollins and Brendan Haywood that Brooklyn is loading up off the buyout market with Blake Griffin and possibly Andre Drummond. And James might not get another championship with Brooklyn in the way.
“LeBron might not win another championship because Brooklyn is in the way,” says Parker.
Both James and Durant are both out for their respective teams with injuries. Durant is out nursing a hamstring injury and has not played since February 13 against the Golden State Warriors.
“I think when we got the second scan, we knew this was going to be longer,” coach Steve Nash said earlier this month. “The first scan there was bleeding, and the imaging wasn’t as clear. So I think we realized [in] the second scan that this was type of timeline we were looking at, and we’ll see that could change. But we were expecting the potential for this to be a month or whatever it may be.”
James went down with a high ankle sprain against the Atlanta Hawks, and after the game, James tweeted that it angers him not being available for his team.
“Nothing angers and saddens me more than not being available to and for my teammates! I’m hurt inside and out right now,” James wrote on Twitter with a face-palm emoji. “The road back from recovery begins now. Back soon, like I never left. #ThekidfromAKRON.”
