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Kyrie Irving, LeBron James, and the decision that haunts the Los Angeles Lakers
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LeBron James feeds AD late for a thunderous slam (0:50) in a play involving Kyrie Irving and the Los Angeles Lakers that will always haunt them.
Senior Writer for ESPN Ramona Shelburne
01/17/2024 at 8:00 AM ET
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LeBron James of the Lakers approached his old teammate during pregame warmups, gave him a hug and a dapper handshake that they had developed in Cleveland.
Irving had an open schedule following the Dallas Mavericks’ failure to qualify for the postseason. He spends the winter in Los Angeles. However, Irving was also set to become a free agent, and he was keen to work with James again, with whom he had shared an NBA title as a Cavalier, either in Dallas or Los Angeles, according to people close to him.
According to people close to Irving, he was there to deliver that exact message.
According to reports, the Lakers have been debating whether to pursue Irving through free agency or trade for almost a year. Since June 2022, when Irving and the Brooklyn Nets were unable to reach a long-term contract agreement, they had called the team multiple times to express interest in trading for him. They evaluated the benefits of the still-prodigious point guard’s talent and his clear fit with James and Anthony Davis against the risks of making an investment in the volatile and frequently contentious player.
According to sources, James was receptive to the notion but cautious not to take any action that would be interpreted as a push at a time when the company was still attempting to get out of
The most fundamental issue the Lakers need to answer as they approach the midway point of the season and assess their roster before the trade deadline on February 8 is this one: Was the playoff run the previous year a myth driven by James?
Dennis Schroder was replaced by Vincent at point guard, the biggest personnel change from the team from the previous season. Sources claim that Vincent’s shooting and ability to create space was more valued by the Lakers than Schroder’s desire for a more prominent role.
Due to a knee ailment, Vincent has missed all but five games, but Schroder has flourished since joining the Toronto Raptors.
The historical weight James is bearing is undeniable, though.
James has advanced the ball up the floor 30.6 times per game since December 12 and the Lakers’ in-season tournament victory to win the first NBA Cup, which is 50% more than he did in L.A.’s opening 23 games. Almost 20% more touches each game for him. He made 23% more passes per game. His minutes per game increased to 36, an increase of more than 8%.
However, throughout this time, James’ minutes are being significantly reduced for the Lakers, who are outscored by 118 points when he is on the court. During a 15-game span, it is his lowest plus-minus.
It may be difficult for many who witnessed how Irving and James’ time in Cleveland came to an end to imagine a reunion. In an apparent attempt to show that he could manage his own team after the 2017 season, Irving requested a trade. This allowed him to get out of town before James could sign a free agent contract for the next year.
The request for a trade was among the most surprising in the recent NBA history, coming after a trio of consecutive Finals trips.
Although there are many similarities, Kyrie and LeBron were not as poisonous as Shaq and Kobe [O’Neal and Bryant], an ESPN source with knowledge of the matter said. Kobe desired to show that he could triumph without Shaq. And he carried it out. Still, you can’t help but wonder what would have occurred if they had remained together. As you ponder what may have transpired had [Stephon] Marbury and [Kevin] Garnett remained partners.”
