According to recent reports, the Golden State Warriors approached the Los Angeles Lakers with an unsuccessful bid to acquire LeBron James. According to Charles Barkley, the Bay Area side might not have added Jonathan Kuminga to the deal. Barkley told Draymond Green, leader of the GSW, that Rob Pelinka would accept any offer with Kuminga. Even if it meant parting ways with LBJ.

“If the Warriors are stupid enough to give up Kuminga for LeBron, let me tell you something, the Lakers will take that trade tomorrow. If the Lakers can get Klay and Kuminga, they do that deal tomorrow,” Barkley said.

Immediately after, Draymond Green simply stated that he had said no to any deal that involved JK getting traded.

Green said, “If it’s Kuminga then the answer’s no.”

“The one thing the NBA does not want to see, is Anthony Davis & Kuminga together for the next 10 years. That would be scary!”

Chuck asked Draymond about recent Lakers-Warriors trade rumors

Catch the NBA All-Star Game #ALTCAST now on TruTV pic.twitter.com/VNGiftjK8A

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 19, 2024

Jonathan Kuminga is one of the most talented youngsters in the league. With Klay Thompson’s dip in production, the forward has emerged as the team’s 2^nd scoring option and has been thriving in his new role. Undoubtedly, JK will further improve and perform at the All-NBA level that he was projected to be. However, the Warriors would much rather have LeBron James on their roster.

The trio of Curry, Green, and Thompson are entering their late 30s. The organization would much rather capitalize on their dominance while they are still in the prime of their prowess. With LeBron James added to the squad, the Warriors’ chances will significantly increase as compared to Kuminga playing the small forward position for Steve Kerr.

Stephen Curry and LeBron James react to the trade rumors

During the All-Star Weekend, Stephen Curry and LeBron James were asked for their opinions about the trade rumors. Curry stated how he wasn’t surprised to learn that his franchise was attempting to make a push for his long-time rival. However, he did reveal being surprised in regards to the news of the same being leaked.

“A guy like Bron, you would probably call just to see… It’s always a surprise when stuff like that gets out because I’m assuming that every team is making calls that if every fanbase or media group would know about it,” Curry said.

LeBron James crushed all remaining hopes of the Dub Nation. Apart from stating that he heard about the news “when everyone else did”, the 6ft 9” forward also claimed that the deal was not even “real” enough to be brought to him.

“It didn’t go far at all, I heard about it when everyone else did,” LeBron said. “Sometimes there conversations behind closed doors that you don’t even know about. If it’s real or not, then they’ll bring it to you. But it never even got to me.”

“I actually heard about it when everybody else heard about it.”

LeBron says he was unaware of Warriors trade rumors pic.twitter.com/ospvgyxWqt

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 19, 2024

Both teams – the Warriors and the Lakers – are struggling this season. While the LA side is 9^th in the standings, the San Francisco side is right behind them in 10^th. While it doesn’t seem as though the star players are being traded, the front offices of both teams need to figure out a way to add more firepower to the roster to help win the championship.

The post Charles Barkley Ponders Over The Warriors Being “Stupid Enough” To Trade For LeBron James In Exchange For Jonathan Kuminga appeared first on The SportsRush.

Shaq uses Instagram to share his unfiltered opinions on burning subjects that can trigger heated debates. He recently shared an ESPN list of the top 10 NBA players of all time on his IG stories, which had the usual suspects, including the former Los Angeles Lakers superstar. However, he was ranked 10th, at the very bottom of the hierarchy.

Shaq on his IG pic.twitter.com/zdQlvyZqOk

— tragicpatek (@tragicpatek) February 17, 2024

While O’Neal did not write that he disagreed with his ranking on the list, he seemed to imply so tacitly. The three-time Finals MVP has never shied away from boasting about his greatness on the basketball court. In an interview with Relevo, he once said,

“I won four rings and was Finals MVP three times. People can say what they want, but I always came to play when it mattered most. I am the most dominant player to ever step on a basketball court. I haven’t seen anyone yet who I thought could stop me.”

O’Neal is spot on. He’s one of only five players with three or more Finals MVP awards. He was the centerpiece of the last team in the NBA to win three NBA titles in a row. Apart from his other accolades, the Diesel is also a four-time NBA Champion.

While all top 10 lists are subjective, the Los Angeles Lakers icon should easily rank higher than tenth on the list of greatest NBA players. The placement of players like Wilt Chamberlain, who is Shaq’s chief adversary in the ‘Most Dominant Player’ debate, is bound to irk Shaq fans. Other players like Larry Bird and Tim Duncan also found themselves ahead of Shaq on the list.

Shaquille O’Neal defends Kobe Bryant’s greatness

Another player who was ranked too low on the list is Kobe Bryant (9th). Only a few players could pit their resumes against the five-time NBA champion and two-time Finals MVP.

Bryant is fourth all-time on the NBA’s all-time scorers’ list, trailing LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Karl Malone. He’s a five-time NBA champion and is one of only six players to win back-to-back Finals MVP. Bryant is one of only five players alongside James, Kareem, Malone, and Michael Jordan to finish their career with at least 30,000 points, 5,000 assists, and 5,000 rebounds.

Kobe was an offensive juggernaut, but he was an incredible defender as well.  He is among four players with nine first-team All-Defensive selections in NBA history. His 12 All-Defensive selections are the most for any guard in NBA history. Bryant’s 18 All-Star appearances rank third all-time behind James (20) and Kareem (19), and his four All-Star Game MVP wins are the most for a player alongside Bob Pettit.

Bryant’s resume warrants a place higher than ninth on the all-time rankings. O’Neal’s admission suggests he should be ranked as high as fifth. After the Lakers retired Bryant’s #8 and #24 jersey, the Hall of Famer had said,

“Number one, [he is] the greatest Laker player ever. It was amazing that he played with one franchise for 20 years. Did it his way. Accomplished everything he set out to accomplish…but to be the greatest Laker ever, I think that’s an amazing accomplishment.”

Magic Johnson, who spent his entire career with the Lakers, is fifth on the ESPN list. If O’Neal ranks Bryant as the greatest Laker ever, then that means he believes Kobe should be higher than the legendary point guard on the all-time list.

Bryant and O’Neal’s resumes are ludicrously stacked. Michael Jordan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar are the only two players with better careers than the Lakers duo. Everyone else is up for debate. Ranking Bryant and O’Neal ninth and tenth on the all-time list is undermining their achievements, something that the latter will attest to.

The post Shaquille O’Neal Displays ESPN ‘Disrespecting’ Him on Their Top 10 All-Time List appeared first on The SportsRush.

LA will look to have another dominant outing against the 8-44 Detroit Pistons on Tuesday at home, but they could have to do it without Davis. The nine-time All-Star’s status for the game at Crpto.com Arena has been listed as ‘questionable’, as per the Lakers’ February 13 report. The veteran forward is suffering from bilateral Achilles tendinopathy and hip spasms. Neither ailment is severe and can be cured with rest.

The game against Detroit is the Lakers’ penultimate game before the All-Star break. They will take on the Utah Jazz at Delta Center on Wednesday before Davis and James head to Indiana for the All-Star weekend. Given his injuries and the game against the Pistons being the first of a back-to-back, the Lakers could hand Davis a night off. They shouldn’t face any issues beating Detroit but will need their superstar center against the in-form Jazz team on the road. Fans can expect Davis to sit out against the Pistons on Tuesday night.

Anthony Davis’ return to All-Star form

Anthony Davis is enjoying an outstanding campaign. The Lakers superstar is averaging 24.7 points, 12.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.8 blocks this season. More surprisingly, he has missed only four games this year and is trending towards playing more than 70 regular season games for the first time as a Laker. His excellent form and fitness earned him his ninth career All-Star nod after a three-year absence.

Despite Davis’ unprecedented availability, the Lakers have struggled this season. They are 28-26 and currently sit ninth in the Western Conference standings. They are 1-3 without Davis, showcasing how critical his presence is on both ends of the court. Among centers averaging at least 35 minutes per game, his defensive rating of 115.6 ranks second in the league.

The Lakers’ fortunes are dependent on Davis’ fitness. If he can continue staying healthy and play over 70 games this season, the team can sneak into the playoffs and potentially do some damage as a lower seed. They reached the Western Conference Finals last year as the seventh seed. They can emulate that as long as LeBron James and Davis carry the load and D’Angelo Russell continues to perform at the same level that he has been over the past three weeks.

The Lakers may be only two games above the .500 mark, but no team would want to face them in the playoffs.

The post Is Anthony Davis Playing Tonight Against the Pistons? Feb 13th Injury Report on the Lakers Star Amidst a Slew of Ailments appeared first on The SportsRush.

Johnson had signed a twenty-five-year, $25 million extension with the franchise in 1981 offseason to commit his entire career to the Lakers. But, only five months later, he was fed up with head coach Paul Westhead‘s tactics and publicly demanded an exit from the team. After the Lakers beat the Utah Jazz 113-110, Johnson told the media,

“I can’t play here anymore. I want to leave. I want to be traded.”

Johnson was asked if coach Westhead was the reason he wanted to exit the franchise, and he did not mince words, saying,

“Yeah. We don’t see eye to eye on a lot of things. It’s time for me to go.” 

The point guard was allegedly miffed about the Lakers’ slow-paced offense, which catered to center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Johnson wanted a fast-paced offense and to use his ball-handling skills and court vision. However, the coach refused to change tactics, irking the point guard.

Lakers owner Jerry Buss did not waste any time in showcasing where his loyalty lay. He fired Westhead and promoted assistant Pat Riley to the head coaching role. Buss claimed firing Westhead wasn’t prompted by Johnson’s trade demand. He said,

”Obviously it was a difficult decision for us. There is no way to criticize anybody. I was disappointed in not seeing an exciting team once again. This started after the first or second game.” 

Although Buss claimed the firing reason to be different, it was abundantly clear why the Lakers had parted ways with their head coach. Notably, all the chatter surrounding Westhead’s firing quickly disappeared as the Lakers dominated on the court and won the NBA title in Riley’s first year as the head coach. He spent eight more seasons with the franchise, led them to five more NBA Finals appearances and three more titles.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar sheds light on Paul Westhead’s firing

The Lakers won the NBA title in 1980 on the back of rookie Magic Johnson and superstar center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s ability to get the best out of each other’s unique skill sets. However, after the point guard missed 45 games in the 1980-81 season, coach Westhead wanted to build an offensive gameplan that worked even in Johnson’s absence. In his Substack, Kareem explained,

“The Lakers were used to outrunning teams and Magic was a key part of that strategy because he had an uncanny intuitiveness about when to drive and when to pass…. We were less choreographed and more like jazz, anticipating each other’s moves, reading the body movement, reacting to the notes the other was playing… “Paul had a more methodical, tactical approach. He added more set plays that stifled Magic’s spontaneity and killed our fast-break advantage.”

Kareem said the Lakers had no choice but to fire their head coach to keep their 22-year-old superstar happy.

Choosing Johnson over Westhead was the correct move. He played a pivotal role in helping the franchise win four more titles.

Riley’s fast-paced offense centered around Johnson’s playmaking abilities produced the most entertaining basketball ever. Their fast breaks, alley-oops, and dunks became legendary and almost impossible to contain. Jerry Buss’ decision to side with Johnson birthed the Showtime Lakers and a dynasty unlike any other in NBA history.

The post “I Want to Leave”: A Year After Signing $25 Million Contract, Magic Johnson Openly Demanded a Trade in 1981 appeared first on The SportsRush.

 

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Once the details of the $1 bonus went viral on social media, there was a lot of confusion among fans. However, during Monday’s media availability, Dinwiddie decided to clear all the mix-up. While talking to the reporters, the 10-year veteran revealed that the $1 bonus was a way for him to bond with his agent Jason Glushon. This same bonus has been a clause in his contract since his stint for the Washington Wizards.

“In my last deal there was a series of bonuses… One of those being the dollar championship bonus. Lot of people thought it was kind of funny at the time cause I was signed to the Wizards. But me and Glushon basically made a deal that we gonna keep it in whatever deal I sign, if possible, going forward. It’s kind of like just the thing me and him bond over… It has more to sort of do with the tie between me and my agent than anything,” Dinwiddie explained.

Spencer Dinwiddie explains the $1 contract incentive bonus if the Lakers win the championship as sort of an inside joke that him and his agent, Jason Glushon of GSM, concocted pic.twitter.com/a7ni5HN28j

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) February 12, 2024

The 6ft 5” combo guard had this deal added as a clause during his tenure with the Washington Wizards. Since parting ways with the Wizards, Dinwiddie proceeded to represent the Dallas Mavericks and the Brooklyn Nets. Now that he’s part of the star-studded Los Angeles Lakers, this is his best shot at winning a ring and also securing the $1 bonus.

Spencer Dinwiddie is set to earn $1,554,664 for the 2023-2024 season. If the Purple & Gold do end up not winning the NBA Finals, the $1 lost shouldn’t cause a massive hole in his pocket.

Spencer Dinwiddie tried turning his contract into cryptocurrency

Back in 2020, Spencer Dinwiddie tried to become the first athlete to tokenize his contract. By tokenizing 40% of his three-year, $34.46 million contract, Dinwiddie will receive the full value of his contract up front instead of waiting three years.

Spencer Dinwiddie (@SDinwiddie_25), Brooklyn Nets NBA player, is tokenizing 40% of his $34M 3-year contract and is also releasing a platform for other athletes to do the same. I think this is actually a bigger deal than people realize. Or maybe I’m just excited about NBA & crypto

— Larry Cermak (@lawmaster) September 27, 2019

Mike Orcutt of MIT Technology Review explained the dynamics behind the same. He mentioned how Dinwiddie was breaking down his contract to 90 tokens with a worth of $150,000 each. Scrutinizing with his legal team as well, the NBA star stated that the tokens will become tradeable after a year with the digital security being paid 4.95% every month. Unfortunately, the project only managed to raise 10% of the initial target, selling only nine tokens or $1.35 million.

Several years later, Spencer Dinwiddie feels less “crazy” after cryptocurrency has been more talked about and accepted by his peers. During an interview appearance, the guard explained how players of all ages were open to having a conversation about cryptocurrency.

“I think one of the cool things about the NBA, even in the age gap that we have let’s say 18-35 roughly, a lot of the older guys are still looking to invest make money… But yeah I think with people that are more familiar with NFTs, Web 3, it’s just a more seamless conversation….Just looking at the evolution over 6 years I’m not crazy anymore,” Dinwiddie revealed.

Even though Dinwiddie’s plan didn’t reach its full potential, it was successful in educating other athletes about the benefits of cryptocurrency. It won’t be surprising to see more players wanting to follow Spencer’s steps and display their interest in digital currency.

The post Years After He Tokenized $34 Million, Spencer Dinwiddie Showcased The Most Odd Contract Bonus Granted The Lakers Win The NBA Finals appeared first on The SportsRush.

One player they are reportedly interested in is former Brooklyn Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie. He was traded to the Toronto Raptors on trade deadline day for former Lakers guard Dennis Schroder before being released. The veteran guard is now looking for a new home and is being sought after by the Lakers.

However, they aren’t alone in having Dinwiddie on their wishlist. The Dallas Mavericks are also reportedly interested in signing their former guard. He spent a year and a half with the franchise before being traded to the Brooklyn Nets as part of the Kyrie Irving trade. A year later, the Mavericks want to bring him back and the team’s minority owner, Mark Cuban, has already set the wheels in motion. He was seen having a conversation with Dinwiddie when Dallas visited Brooklyn to take on the Nets earlier this week.

Marc Cuban recruiting his ass off with Dinwiddie lol.

pic.twitter.com/kgx6WCcCCp

— Glen (@Glenjr1988) February 9, 2024

Dinwiddie would be a terrific addition to either team. He can come off the bench and be the primary ball-handler to help ease the burden on his team’s guards. The guard even shot over 40% from the perimeter during his stint with the Mavericks. He can stretch the floor late in games and knock down three-pointers during clutch moments, whether it be during the regular season or the playoffs.

Given his options, the veteran guard can choose whichever team he fancies and will likely announce a decision soon.

Lakers’ failed pursuit of Dejounte Murray

The Lakers were in hot pursuit of Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray before the trade deadline passed. They wanted the veteran to bolster their roster and be an elite third option behind LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

The Lakers were reportedly willing to part ways with D’Angelo Russell, Jalen Hood-Schifino, and a first-round draft pick to land the Hawks star. However, Atlanta allegedly demanded guard Austin Reaves as part of the Murray deal, and talks between the two teams stalled. Eventually, they couldn’t agree on terms, and he remains a Hawk at least until the summer.

The Atlanta Hawks are keeping guard Dejounte Murray, sources tell ESPN. No trade for him.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 8, 2024

The Lakers will take solace in Russell’s improved form over the past ten games. The veteran guard is averaging 23 points, 6.8 assists, and 2.5 rebounds while shooting 45.1% from beyond the arc in his last ten outings. If he can continue his sensational recent form, the Lakers could go far in the playoffs.

The post NBA Rumors: Lakers and Mavericks to Likely Compete For Spencer Dinwiddie appeared first on The SportsRush.

The team’s staying put with what they have despite boasting a 27-25 record before their game against the Denver Nuggets on Thursday will undoubtedly frustrate LeBron James, who was reportedly pushing the team to make moves. However, the last time the Lakers gave into the four-time MVP’s demand and made a blockbuster trade, it proved to be a disaster.

In April 2022, Magic Johnson revealed that the Lakers had deals in place to land free DeMar DeRozan and Sacramento Kings guard Buddy Hield, which was usurped by James demanding the team land Russell Westbrook. He said,

“DeRozan wanted to play for the Lakers, and when I got the call from his agent, I called the Lakers, said, ‘Hey, he wants to come home.’ And DeRozan could have been a Laker instead of a Bull.. When Russell and LeBron and them started talking, that’s when they nixed that deal and went with Westbrook, and he became a Laker instead of DeRozan.. If you sign DeRozan, you only trade Kuzma for Buddy Hield, we would be playing in the Western Conference Finals.”

Trade Deadline is today.

Never forget when Magic called out LeBron for nixing the DeRozan deal and trading for Westbrook instead.

Per Magic…

1. “DeRozan wanted to come home.”

2. Lakers had enough money to sign DeRozan and keep both Caruso and KCP.

3. Lakers also had a… pic.twitter.com/naYsCVz7M2

— 8/24Mambalytics (@el_jefe562) February 8, 2024

Signing DeRozan and landing Hield for Kyle Kuzma would’ve left the Lakers with enough cap sign to offer Alex Caruso an extension. However, upon the four-time MVP’s insistence, the Lakers traded Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Montrezl Harrell, their 2021 first-round pick, and two second-picks to the Washington Wizards for Westbrook. Caruso and DeRozan signed with the Chicago Bulls.

The Lakers went 33-49 in the 2021-22 season and missed the playoffs. They were 25-30 four months into the 2022-23 season when they blew up the roster and landed D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, Malik Beasley, and Mo Bamba while parting ways with Westbrook and a few other role players.

The trades worked wonders, as the Lakers finished the regular season 43–39 and made it to the Western Conference Finals. In hindsight, Pelinka would’ve preferred to have DeRozan, Hield, and Caruso instead of Westbrook, who proved to be one of the worst trade acquisitions in franchise history.

Lakers pass on deadline day moves

General manager Rob Pelinka’s moves on trade deadline day last year turned the Lakers from playoff aspirants to title contenders. They were expected to make similar moves this year, with Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray being named the player they covet the most.

However, the Lakers failed to find an agreement with the Hawks in the lead-up to the trade deadline and reportedly did not even bother calling teams and enquiring about potential deals.

Sources: The Lakers have acquired donuts for the whole office. Really nice gesture. Even got gluten-free and vegan for those that had dietary restrictions.

— Harrison Faigen (@hmfaigen) February 8, 2024

The Lakers will turn their attention to the buyout market to land players who could help their title charge. Veteran guards Kyle Lowry and Spencer Dinwiddie are reportedly among the players that the Lakers will target.

The Los Angeles Lakers are among the front runners to sign guard Spencer Dinwiddie when he clears waivers, sources tell ESPN. The 30-year-old L.A. native averaged 12.6 points and 6.0 assists for BKN this season.

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) February 8, 2024

While neither signing would excite the Lakers fanbase, those are the cards they are dealt. The franchise lacks valuable assets since the ill-fated Russell Westbrook trade. The team will hedge their bets on landing Donovan Mitchell in the offseason and hope LeBron James sticks around for one more season. The Lakers are ninth in the Western Conference standings and are fighting for a playoff berth. The current roster has failed to deliver. However, they are stuck with it until the end of this season.

The post “Only Trade Kyle Kuzma for Buddy Hield”: Magic Johnson Blaming LeBron James for Nixing DeMar DeRozan’s Trade to Lakers Resurfaces Amid Trade Deadline appeared first on The SportsRush.

During a play, Bryant was matched up against Jordan and was looking to create space to get his shot off. Malone jogged over to set a screen but was waved off by the young debutant, who settled for a contested jump shot and missed.

In 2016, George Karl, the coach of the Western Conference team, revealed that Malone took exception to Bryant waving him off. He said,

“Kobe told him to get off the block & get out of my way.”

George Karl confirmed Karl Malone asked out of 98 ASG bc Kobe waved him off. Karl: “Kobe told him to get off the block & get out of my way.”

— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) January 21, 2016

Malone asked to be subbed off and was later quoted saying,

“When young guys tell me to get out of the way, that’s a game I don’t need to be in.” 

Bryant was unbothered by the Utah Jazz superstar’s comments. In a post-game interview, he responded to Malone, saying,

“That was his opinion. I found it kind of funny. It didn’t bother me.”

The Lakers guard added that he only waved off Malone because he wasn’t to prove his mettle against Jordan. He claimed the Jazz star had probably done the same when he was a young up-and-comer in the NBA. While Malone was seething, Bryant was nonchalant, which probably irked the veteran forward more.

Karl Malone and Kobe Bryant’s beef over Vannessa

Six years after the incident in the All-Star, 41-year-old Karl Malone joined Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers, chasing the championship ring that had eluded him throughout his career.

Their relationship as teammates started on a good note, and the duo even got close off the court, as their wives also became friends. However, an incident in December 2004 soured their relationship forever. Before a game against the Milwaukee Bucks at the Crpyto.com Arena, Bryant’s wife Vannessa quipped at Malone’s cowboy outfit, saying, “Hey, cowboy, what are you hunting?” The former MVP claims he jokingly replied, “I’m hunting for little Mexican girls.”

Malone’s comment offended Bryant, and the veteran apologized to his younger teammate and wife. However, Bryant did not let the story drown out. During a conversation with journalists, he said,

“The comments that [Malone] said, I don’t know any man in this room that wouldn’t be upset about that… What he said is what he said. I believe in my heart that it wasn’t a misunderstanding. My wife wasn’t going to stand for it. She felt uncomfortable being around him to the point that she felt she had to call his wife and tell her.”

Over a decade later, Malone said in a HuffPost Live interview that he did not have a problem with Bryant, but if the Lakers superstar wanted to fight, he was willing to go at it. Bryant never took Malone up on his offer. Their beef fizzled out as they never crossed paths. However, the animosity between the two superstars was palpable in 1998 and 2004.

The post When Karl Malone Almost Gave Up His All-Star Spot Over Kobe Bryant’s Disrespectful On-Court Move: “Get Out of My Way” appeared first on The SportsRush.

However, LeBron James has still not recovered fully from his “Left Ankle Peroneal Tendinopathy”, which has been bothering him for the past few months or so. The LA team is gearing up to host the reigning NBA champions, the Denver Nuggets, at home on Thursday. But James’ participation is not a certainty.

The veteran forward has been listed as “questionable” on the team’s injury report for the game. James has missed six games this season due to the ankle injury. However, he will probably suit up and play against the Nuggets on Thursday. It’s a massive night for the franchise at Crypto.com Arena, and the veteran guard will not sit out unless the pain becomes unbearable.

Anthony Davis is also listed as “questionable” on the injury report. LA fans would hope that the Bron-Davis duo can take care of business at home to climb up the Western Conference table from the ninth place.

LeBron James and the Lakers gear up for Kobe Bryant statue unveiling

While the rest of the league is gearing up for the trade deadline on Thursday, the Lakers are preparing for an emotional night. The franchise will install Kobe Bryant‘s statue outside Crypto.com Arena and celebrate the icon and his legacy. The Lakers chose February 8th, 2024, as the date for the unveiling because it represents the Mamba and his late daughter Gianna’s jersey numbers.

Kobe Bryant gets his statue today on 2-8-24 pic.twitter.com/3UbXnQfgrJ

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 8, 2024

Bryant will become the sixth Lakers player after Elgin Baylor, Shaquille O’Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, and Jerry West to be immortalized with a statue. The team will also wear the iconic Black Mamba uniforms which he designed. The Lakers announced the return of the jersey with a press release on Monday at 8:24 PM, another nod to Bryant’s jersey numbers.

The Lakers are bringing back the Kobe Bryant-inspired Black Mamba uniforms for their game against the Nuggets on 2.8.24 pic.twitter.com/fTCSNjwxjf

— Nice Kicks (@nicekicks) February 6, 2024

The Lakers last donned the jersey during the 2020 playoffs. They went 4-1 in the uniform en route to winning the title. They also wore it once in the Western Conference Finals against Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets. In typical Mamba fashion, the game finished on a game-winning, buzzer-beating shot from Anthony Davis.

I am not an editor editor, but I HADS to try to get the Father Stretch My Hands x AD Buzzer Beater with the Brow saying “Kobe” pic.twitter.com/P2GIgEpXYL

— Adore Berzamina (@AdoreB_24) September 21, 2020

After hitting the game-winner, Davis sprinted towards his teammates and yelled, “Kobe,” paying homage to the Lakers great. The team will undoubtedly be extra motivated to beat the Nuggets on Thursday.

The post Is LeBron James Playing Tonight Against the Nuggets? Feb 8th Injury Report on the Lakers Superstar Ahead of Western Conference Clash appeared first on The SportsRush.

Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell is reportedly on the Lakers’ wishlist for the 2024-25 season and beyond. The guard has been sensational since joining LeBron James’ former team in the 2022 offseason. He averaged a career-high 28.3 points, 4.4 assists, and 4.2 rebounds in his debut season with the team. Additionally, he has been proving that last season was no fluke by averaging 28.2 points, 6.4 assists, and 5.4 rebounds in the 2023-24 campaign.

Per CBS Sports, Mitchell could follow James’ lead and swap Cleveland for Los Angeles. The guard will have two years left on his contract at the end of this season but has a player option for the final year. So if he wishes to, Mitchell can force an exit from Cleveland by threatening to opt out of his player option and becoming a free agent in 2025.

He can also dissuade potential suitors by letting them know he won’t sign an extension with them in 2025 and make it easier for teams he wants to play for to acquire him in the upcoming offseason. The Lakers are among those eyeing Mitchell but won’t chase him in the offseason if they manage to land a superstar before the February 8th trade deadline. That would pave the way for the New York Knicks to chase the Cavaliers superstar.

Sources tell @CBSsports that a complicating factor on whether or not the Lakers acquire an impact player in the next 24 hours is the belief within the organization they could have a chance to acquire Donovan Mitchell this summer. Knicks also could be in play.

— Bill Reiter (@sportsreiter) February 7, 2024

LeBron James could become a free agent in the 2024 offseason by opting out of the final year of his deal. However, the Lakers trading for Mitchell and forming a Big 3 of the Cavaliers star, James and Anthony Davis will undoubtedly persuade the four-time MVP to play another season in LA. Acquiring the five-time All-Star from Cleveland and retaining James would instantly make the Lakers one of, if not the favorite to win the 2024-25 NBA title. However, making this happen will be far from easy, to say the least.

Former NBA Star claims LeBron James’ plan is already set

LeBron James has been vocal about his desire to play alongside his son, Bronny James, in the NBA. The four-time NBA champion’s eldest child is in his freshman year at the University of South California. He’s averaging 5.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in 20.1 minutes and is expected to go undrafted if he declares the 2024 NBA draft.

However, former Houston Rockets star Chandler Parsons believes Bronny will get drafted if he declares. On the Run It Back podcast, he said,

“First of all, this man knows everything. I think he already knows that Bronny is declaring for the draft. He probably already has a backdoor deal with a team where he is going to squat up with him. The minute you see Bronny James declare for the draft, they know who’s taking him< and you know where LeBron James is going.”

“The minute you see Bronny James declare for the draft, they know who’s taking him and you know where LeBron James is going.”@ChandlerParsons on where LeBron will play next season.

: https://t.co/qYBPWhYgh7 pic.twitter.com/PV0EN9Lofq

— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) February 5, 2024

Spending a draft pick on Bronny comes with the benefit of landing LeBron James. Teams vying for a difference-maker to push them to the next level could consider the move. There are enough teams that would love to have James on their roster. Even if it came at the cost of wasting a draft pick on a player averaging less than six points in college.

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