LeBron TURNS 41! Can he and Luka Doncic Help Get the Lakers BACK ON TRACK?
Technically, the last time LeBron James missed the All-Star Game was … last year, when he couldn’t play because of injury. The last time he wasn’t on the team? 2004, in his rookie season.
But that streak is in jeopardy. James, who has only played 14 games this season, is way behind in the first round of fan voting, released Monday by the NBA. If he can’t make an electoral comeback, he’d have to find an alternate way onto the team, and given his (by his standards) relatively modest output to this point in the season, there’s certainly no guarantee he’d be added to it as an at-large guy. Obviously there’s still time between now and when the teams are finalized, but currently it’s reasonable to believe James is on the outside looking in.
Which is weird. On the other hand, he’s turning 41 on Tuesday, and the idea you’re having any sort of conversation about this for a guy this old is pretty amazing, but the “Yes or no?” question is relevant for more than just history. The Lakers need All-Star LeBron, especially while Austin Reaves is on the sidelines. The Lakers need to figure out how they’re going to maximize LBJ while at the same time keeping him on the floor and performing.
Meanwhile, against the Pistons Tuesday night, the Lakers should have Jaxson Hayes back in the lineup, but could be missing Rui Hachimura, who sat out practice on Monday. But regardless of who plays, the Lakers will need to find a way to build on the better level of play they produced against the Kings on Sunday. Who are the guys who step up after Luka Dončić and LeBron?
Finally, JJ Redick had some revealing comments at practice Monday about the composition of the Lakers’ roster.
HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky
SEGMENT 1: LeBron is turning 41.
SEGMENT 2: An All-Star Game without LeBron?
SEGMENT 3: An interesting comment about skill sets from JJ Redick.
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24 Comments
Interesting how bron plays well shooting 84% but ppl bring up it’s the kings tho the kings beat the rockets … last 5 have missed a minimum of 2 rotational players lol
Why do you guys use line up metrics when they haven’t played that many games healthy ??
7:15 😂 but that’s the point, why would they tell u the truth every time ?
Jj said he wants to develop young players …., so use adou thieto and Chris Manon … they’re right there
Lol horrible take by Andy. Dis team does not have da athletes to b gambling or making up for gambles.
Lakers never left the track. You can't be hot forever with a mediocre team.
The last five years guys have got Bron good shots. Especially Austin Reaves and AD. Nobody has doubled Bron or built a wall for him in almost a decade. Bron often is flashing and getting dunks, wide open for three, cherry picking and switches to big slow guys or small guys he runs over.
Rui’s about to get traded. I assuming they’re keeping him out to protect him from injury. He unfollowed the lakers on IG last night. Thank god. Lol
I am going to go back to before the season. Lakers have a roster full of tradable contracts. Idea at the time was that players were auditioning for the Luka team next year after Lebron's salary disappeared. Laker roster is getting showcased for the rest of the league to see. If this team loses James or Luka for a couple of games, not good. Thinking the Lakers will be sellers.
Funny how a player can be having an All-Star season then he is injured and will miss 2 months minimum. happens all the time.
NBA should have a golf tournament instead of the ASG. Or maybe a Poker Tournament.
LeBron shouldn't make the all-star team because he doesn't want to participate anymore let someone else get that spot who deserves it
ONE SIMPLE HELPFUL FIX….HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE… AND THAT'S…TAKIN LUKA OUT THE LAST 2/3 MIN OF 1st….
Then U CAN START HIM AGAIN IN 2ND OR BRING HIM BACK EARLIER
No way in hell should Lebron be in the all star game. That would be as bad as voting in someone a 3rd term
Lakers will not make any major changes until LeBron is gone. Rightfully so because he’s not gonna make anyone better and will place blame else where.
Last year LeBron pulled the plug on the all-star game and this year he’s not an all-star but simply a legacy vote
Luka is a horrible All Star Game player so we are not getting much representation
It would be the perfect bookend to a made up fairytale career for LeBronze
So you are saying that the whole team should do everything possible to to give Lefraud easy shots so he can pad his stats, while the team will lose just about every game . That is an insane analysis. The Lakers have to bench him for the rest of the season. Look at Nick Smith, a perfect replacement, Laravia given more minutes will for sure contribute much more then Lefraud, it is crystal clear that He is a clear and present danger to any Lakers success this season. Nobody will miss this ridiculous, sneaky clown who in plain site destroyed Reeves, the second best player on the team
Hey guys! Merry Christmas and happy holidays to you all!
I would like to relay a message from #Awfulcoaching
Stop the narrative. Stop creating one. Comment on the basketball stuff.
Is Luka going to work with LBJ? Who flipping cares. They are one of the most intelligent basketball players in THE WORLD. RELAX AND REPORT BASKETBALL. Not old woman's tales. Peace out 🤝
Hello guys. Hope you’re having a great close to the year!
I agree 100% with Andy about the switching on defense. They switch without fighting on every possession…I really think there’s value on switching, but in specific instances of the game, not for 48 minutes.
Always a pleasure to listen to the show. Best wishes from DR 🇩🇴
Hi guys. Am watching the DET vs. LAL right now, and they're losing. Lebron has a +/- of -13 as of the moment. I cannot get why aren't the Lakers going to the Luka/Lebron pick-and-roll? Lebron is just standing at the weakside not involved in the offense. I think they should go to the Luka/Lebron more, or put Lebron at the post where he can get the ball and make decisions.
Lebron sadly doesn't deserve to sniff the All-Star team this year, if we were going solely on performance. He on the team to help us win, and he certainly hasn't been doing that, especially tonight on his 41st birthday.
41 years old, and still playing great basketball. We will never see anything like this again. Happy Birthday LeBron 🐐🟣🟡
LeBron James is the greatest basketball player of all time, and it’s not even close anymore 🤷🏻♀️ Happy Birthday LeBron 🐐💜💛
So tonight we learned another thing about our team along with being weak defensively. They aren’t physical enough to play teams like the Pistons. The Pistons by the way play like the old Rodman days. Dirty but get away with it.