‘LeBron James is the most INTERESTING STORY IN THE NBA!’ 👀 – Stephen A. on the Lakers | First Take

ers eight and three to start the season and LeBron James has yet to step onto the court. Luca Donuch has taken over in his absence seemingly unlocked another level to his game which is scary. Austin Reeves has also shined in a bigger role and this dynamic duo has Lakers fans thinking obviously big things for the future. Now Luca leads the league with 37 points in his seven games this season with Reeves not far behind scoring just over 30 points per game. So LeBron, you know, itching to come back and it’ll be sooner rather than later when he does return. Stephen A, what kind of impact is he going to have on this squad? This is very interesting. We only got a quick point, so I’m going to make it very, very quick. LeBron James is the most interesting and compelling story in the NBA right now. Because of this reason, the Lakers are winning without him. Luca Donuch is a leading candidate for league MVP honors without him. Austin Reeves is averaging 30 without him. And the Lakers are winning without him. When you come back, we know what a basketball savant LeBron James is. We all know that. But because of Austin Reeves, he ain’t going to affect Luca because Luca’s going to have the ball in his hands and Luca’s going to do what Luca does. But how LeBron James plays is going to determine in large part the success of Austin Reeves moving forward. So, can he fit in, fit out? What you going to do? How are you gonna do it? That’s going to be the interesting part because if he does it right, the Lakers at the very least could end up in the conference finals against Oklahoma City. That’s what we’re talking about here. That’s how significant LeBron James return could end up being for the Lakers. Wagu, what do you think? I’m going to give LeBron benefit of the doubt. I think he’s one of the most cerebral basketball players that this game has ever seen and he’ll figure out a way to allow Austin Reeves to continue doing what he’s doing. He’s he remember we used to get on this guy for making the right plays early in his career as opposed to taking shots to try to hit game winners. But I’m going to get to this point now. I think LeBron understands that this team is young and they’re moving in a direction to where they’ll be without him. He needs to come in and help facilitate. And if winning an NBA championship is his main priority and goal, he’s going to make sure that Austin Reeves and Luca Donuch feel like they are the driving force for this football team with all of us knowing how important LeBron is going to be if they have a chance to win a championship. I agree 100%. I expect LeBron to fit in perfectly. I understand he’s a little pressure on him because they’ve played well and Donuch has been great. Reeves was he had some 50point games already this year. 51 51 against Sacramento. 51. I I expect LeBron to hang to hang in there pretty good. Houston’s good. Denver’s very good. Oklahoma City is great and San, but I they’re a little young. Yeah, they’re a little playing like Oh, he’s I agree. He is. But still, you got to figure Denver, OKC, Lakers, and maybe Houston are the four best teams in the conference. And I’ll tell you something right now, too. Oklahoma City last night, they killed the Warriors. And the Warriors bought everybody there. They went by 45 points. They’d end the third quarter. They’re almost trying to prove to people that last year was not a fluke. Well, they’re not. Look, they got the best record in basketball right now. Oklahoma City ain’t worried about a damn thing. Shay Gil Alexander is just going out there being who he is and reminding you there’s levels to this and I’m on it. Okay. But if Luca continues to look the way that he looks and Austin Reeves isn’t compromised and LeBron is who we know him to be, it can get very interesting. Don says 260 points through seven games so far this season. a lot of way. And don’t don’t forget don’t forget a couple years ago what Luca was able to do against OKC even in losing the series. No, he beat him beat him. He beat him beat him. Beat him in the play by the way. Oh yeah. That’s why Nico Harrison got fired. It ain’t just because Dallas is three and eight and Anthony Davis is only playing at 14. Lucas played great. It’s because Luca is looking phenomenal. That’s why Nico’s out. I agree with you.

Stephen A. Smith, Chris “Mad Dog” Russo and Marcus “Swagu” Spears join Shae Cornette on First Take to discuss what LeBron James’ return to the surging Los Angeles Lakers will be like.

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47 comments

  4. Here's a complete fact the Lakers are terrible when Luka and AR are on the bench, their offense doesn't score without them and in the playoffs this will not work your have to have a secondary squad off the bench. Now this may sound controversial to the world and especially LeBron, but Bron needs to come off the bench and lead the second unit and I believe they can get a championship this way. But this won't happen I guarantee it.

  5. I like Lebron but he needs to go. He is just going to ruin the pacing of the offense and they clearly thrive off a fast paced offense.

  9. People are making a big deal out of how Lebron will fit in, but this is perfect situation for him, the team is winning and he can just take his time to come back and doesn’t have to exhaust himself after every game. It’s a long season and you just never know when one of those guys will be out for sometime.

  26. 8-3 is probably better than they would've been with LeBron in the lineup, but that pace isn't going to last (with or without LeBron). When LeBron comes back, he has to make a decision about what role he wants to play because they're doing well without him. If he wants to win, then he'll play more away from the ball and get involved when needed. This is the first time in his career where he doesn't need to be the center of the offense, and he's not capable of consistently being the center of the defense.

  39. No he's not, stop talking about this. What will happen is he'll score some, be a liability 50% of the time on defense, which when paired with Luka will hurt the team. And of course Lakers will blow out early in the playoffs. Every year they talk about this when nothing is going to happen. What a boring show.

  44. It’s incredible how little SAS knows about basketball. Like he covered it for 30 years and talks nothing but BS. It’s only right he wants to get into politics.

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